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COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 

AT 

UNVEILING AND DEDICATION % 

OF THE 

FT. MEIGS MONUMENT 

September 1 , 1 908 



Presentation Address of Chairman J. B. Wilson of the Fort 

Meigs Commission and Response of Acceptance 

by Gov. A. L. Harris 



Addresses by Lieutenant Gov. Robert S. Murphy of Pennsylvania, Gen, 
Bennett H. Young of Kentucky, Major Robert W. Hunter of 
Virginia, and Senator J. B. Foraker of Ohio 



To Which Is Appended an Interesting Diary of Capt. Daniel Lewis 
Gushing, Gommander of the Grand Battery 



Compiled and Prepared by F. J. Oblinger, 
Toledo, Ohio 



^r t'^ 



■^ < '09 




FORT MEIGS MONUMENT 

DIMENSIONS— Base. 34 feet square. Height to Shaft, 15 feet 8 inches. Die. 8 
feet 8 inches square. Shaft at base, 6 feet square. Shaft at top, 4 feet square. From 
base to top, 81 feet 8 inches. 

PATRIOTIC SYMBOL- --The monument, a modest, well proportioned, plain, 
granite shaft 82 feet high, is symbolic of the patriotic spirit of the people of today and 
their deep and lasting love and gratitude for the hardy men of 1812-13. 



Members of Ft. Meigs Commission 



JOHN B. WILSON, Chairman 
CHAS. W. SHOEMAKER 
J. L. PRAY 
WM. CORLETT, Secretary 



Fort Meigs Dedicatory Services 



Tuesday, September 1, 1908. 

1. Call to order by J. B. Wilson, Chairman of the 

Fort .M<'i|»'s Connnission, at 2:00 p. m. 

2. Siniiinm "America" Andience 

Led l)v WaterNiUe Choir, 75 voices. 

3. Invocation Rev. J. l\ Michaelis of ^lanniee 

4. Inti'odnction of (Jov. A. L. Harris as President 

of the Day, and presentation to him of com- 
pleted Moniwnent l»y Chairman ^A'ilson, and 
acceptance of same by Co v. Harris. 

5. Singing Waterville ( Mioir 

6. Address. Col. Bennett H. Vonng, Kentncky 

7. Singing AVatei'ville Chorns Choir 

8. Addje'ess 

Lieut, (lov. KobL S. .Murphy, < f Jolmstown, Pa. 

!». Address 

ALijor Hold. \\'. Hunter, of Richmond, Va. 

10. Addi-ess Seuatoi- .1. 15. Foi-akei- of Ohio 

11. Singing, "Stai- Spangh'd lianner" 

^^'ater^•ille Choi-us ( 'hoir 

12. Benediction Kev. R. 1). ITolliniit(m 




GEN. WM. H. HARRISON 



COMPLETE RECORD 



Of the Dedicatory Services of Fort Meigs Monu- 
ment, September 1, 1908 



There is do doubt that tlie eartlnvorks of Fort Meig=! 
in 1813, manned by as brave a l)and of heroic officers and 
men as ever battled for human rights, saved the continent 
from the invasion of tyranny. It was indeed the hardy 
band of pioneer sohliery under Gen. Wm. IT. Harrison, 
that turned baciv the British mercenaries and their savage 
Indian allies under Gen. Proctor. It was indeed a mem- 
orable event not only in the history of the iMaumee Valley, 
but it was one of national significance as well. It proved 
a triumph in our national history when the British hordes 
were driven back broken and discomfited, and this glori- 
ous heritage, now dotted with thriving towns and cities 
and peaceful homes, was saved from foreign thraldom and 
spoliation. 

The Ovation of 1840. 

Twenty-seven years afterwards, during the famous 
campaign of General Harrison for the presidency, in 1840, 
the people came in great crowds numbered bv thousands, 
to do honor to the heroic defender of Fort Meigs, and to 
visit the scene of his struggles with the savage hordes of 
British intolerance and oppression. The brave old soldi(M' 
then delivered an address on the same spot where now 
stands the beautiful monument erected to the memory of 
those brave soldiers. 

It was indeed a memorable occasion. No man ever 
received a warmer ovation from the many thousands as- 
sembled. There were no raili'oads at that time, and the 
people gathered there from all ]ioinls of the compass, bv 
lake, by wagon, and many on foot. Avell prepared to have 
an enjoyable time and testifv their appreciation of the 
grand old soldier, so familiarly known at that time as 



10 

"Old Tippecanoe." Forty thousand is given as the low- 
est estimate of the great throngs at that time assembled. 

The Event of 1908. 

Years passed by, and once more the attention of the 
residents not only of the Maiimee Valley, bnt of those of 
our nearby states, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky and 
Michigan, was called to this sacred spot on the occasion 
of the dedication of the Fort ^feigs iiionuuieut on Sep- 
tember 1, 1908. 

This was the culiiiination of the prolonged efforts on 
the part of the iNlaunHH^ Vallev Pioneer and Historical 
Association. For years that association through patient 
and industrial effort, secured the aid of tlie Legislature of 
Ohio, to obtain possession of these grounds, and were thus 
enabled to dedicate them forever to the memory of the 
brave men of nearly a century ago. 

It is our purpose now to give as accurate an account 
as possible of the dedicatory services on that occasion in 
the presence «tf the many thousands who were assembled 
on that day. 

Battery B. 

Battery B of Toledo, with an equipment costing 
$2r)0,000, und(M' command of ("'a])tain Taylor, camped on 
the ground ^londay aftei-noon, with 4.") men and ."Sr) horses, 
and did not break cam]) till Wednesday morning. 

At sunrise Tuesday morning the batierv fired a salute 
whose echoes could be heard for miles Jiround, and for the 
first time the magnificent flag ])resented by the Toledo 
National T^nion, was flung to the breeze from the toji of a 
stately steel flag staff. 

Pioneer Reunion. 

The forenoon was given over to the anniial reunion 
and picnic of the ]\raumee Valley Pioneer Association in 
which it is estimated that fully 3,000 participated. 

The Board of Trustees of the Maumee Valley Pioneer 
and TTistorical Association who had chai-ee of the celebra- 
tion, anticipating the large attendance, had pi-ovided com- 



11 

modious rest tents equipped witli cots and chairs, and 
many other conveniences. Barrels of ice water were 
placed here and there over the grounds, and along the 
south side of the river were many refreshment stands. 

The pioneers were called to order at 10 o'clock, Presi- 
dent Foster Pratt presiding. The old officers were re- 
elected, as follows: 

President, by virtue of being the oldest member of 
the Maumee Valley, Foster Pratt. 

Vice Presidents — Justice ^IcDonald, Maumee; W. C 
Harris and J. L. Pray, East Toledo, and A. P. Campbell, 
Bowling Green. 

Secretary — J. ^I. Wolcott, ^Maumee. 

Executive Committee — Pev. J. P. Michaelis, ^laumee; 
Jane Draper, Toledo; G. H. Blaker, Maumee; G. N. Bal- 
lon and Jacob Enalehart, Toledo. 

Gen. Young Speaks. 

The first speaker after the election of officers was Dr. 
Morgan of Maumee, who spoke l)riefly of early pioneer 
history and the struggles to free the great Northwest of 
the domination of the Britisli forces and tlieir savage 
allies, the Indians. 

The feature of the forenoon (wercises however, was 
the magnificent address of Colonel Bennett Young of 
Kentucky, who since he addressed the ^Fauuiee Valley Pio- 
neers three years ago, has been an honorary member of 
the association. Colonel Young spoke in part as follows : 

"What a marA-elous thing it is to be able to stand in 
this distant state and say, 'our country.' T came from 
the state of Kentucky to thank the people of tlie Maume^ 
Valley for this magnificent monument to our dead. There 
were only 1,S00 men killed in tlie war of 1S12, and of that 
number fate put it u]) to Kentucky to sacrifice 1,000 of 
her sons. My kinsmen were in this fort on that day of 
May 5, 1813, and fought in the battle which saved this 
valley from conquest. 

"It makes a heap of difference how you come to 
Ohio. T came to Ohio once and you all took me and 
put me in the penitentiary. I am here now as a happy 



12 

guest. I thought it a hardship that God should 
decide that our cause should fail, but I have since 
come to the conclusion that God kncAv better than I did, 
for this is the greatest, grandest and most progressive 
nation in the world. I may say now that I thank God 
for the result, although it was a bitter pill at the time. 

"I have come to bear to you the grateful thanks of 
Kentucky. You men who have for forty years persevered 
Avith zeal the Avork of commemorating this ground, de- 
serve the gratitude not only of Kentucky, but the grati- 
tude of the whole country. 

"It was the spirit generated bv the men who fell here 
in defense of the Ohio settlements that made the armies 
of the north and south the greatest volunteer armies that 
ever rallied around a flag and cause, braving death with 
a courage which only freemen can feel and that has made 
this the great nation of history." 



DEDICATORY EXERCISES 



They Opened In the Presence of a Large 
Assemblage 



The dedicatoi-y exercises, beginning at 2 o'clock, were 
conducted on a platform erected near the monument. 
John Tl Wilson, Gliainnan of tlic !'^>rt Meigs roimnission, 
presiding. 

The exercises opened by the AA'atei-ville (Miorus of 75 
trained voices leading in the singing of "America." Rev. 
J. P. Michaelis of ^raume(\ offered the following 

Invocation. 

O Lord, God of hosts, we beseech Thee look with favor 
upon Thy people assembled here in Thy name. 

Inspire us today with the same lofty ideals of unsel- 
fish love of country and of steadfast devotion to ]>rinciple 
with wliicli many years ago Thou didst move the men 
from Kciilmky, Pennsyhania, Virginia and Ohio to 



13 

mingle their life-blood iu consecrating these grounds a 
shrine of our heaven-born American liberty. 

And as Thy servant Jacob, awakening from his sleep 
in the held of Bethel, said trembling: "How terrible is 
this place," so we now feel Thy awful presence that has 
hovered over this place, and we will pour the oil of glad- 
ness on the stone that is to be a monument of our grati- 
tude. 

Grant, U Lord, that this shaft may always remind us 
and our children of Thy special gift to us, of freedom, and 
that we may always have that true appreciation of the 
brotherhood of man, for which those whose dust lies yon- 
der fought so bravely, that thus \\ e may abAays rejoice in 
being able to turn to Thee and to call Thee, Our Father ! 
Amen. 

JOH^' B. WILSON'S ADDilESS 
In Presenting the Monument to the State of Ohio. 

Following the invocation. Chairman Wilson, on be- 
half of the Commission, presented to Governor Harris, on 
behalf of the State of Ohio, the monument, speaking as 
follows : 

Ladies and Gentlemen: A little more than ninety- 
hve years ago, the battle of Fort Meigs was fought here. 
The results of that battle are a nuitter of history. Those 
familiar with the great results of that battle are truly 
grateful to the soldiers of that day, and honor them for 
the heroic deeds they accomplished. Yet, these grounds 
have remained all these years unnmrked, save by the silent 
earth-works you see placed here by those brave men, for 
their own defense. Beyond the ravine to the east, there 
lie buried the Kentucky soldiers, and across the highway 
to the south is the consecrated grassy mounds of the Pitts- 
burg Blues, and at the extreme west end of the fort, on 
the sloping banks of the Maumee, is the garrison burying- 
ground ; all unmarked, yet never disturbed by the owners 
of these grounds. 

Ohio Legislature. 

Ohio, two years ago, by her Legislature, appropriated 



14 

125,000 for tlic purchase of this fort, and the erection of a 
suitable memorial to commemorate the acliievements of 
G-euerals Ilariison, Dudley, Clay and their brave men. 

We are glad upon this occasion that we have with us 
our distiuguished Goveruor, Andrew L. Harris, whose 
loyal interest in the proper commemoration of our heroic 
dead merits our highest appreciation. We are likewise 
gratified with the presence of our fearless and faithful 
United States Senator, Joseph B. Foraker. This eventful 
occasion is also honored with the presence of Lieutenant 
Governor Robert S. Murphy, authorized by Governor 
Edwin S. Stuart of Pennsylvania, to represent that state ; 
also Hon. Kobert W. Hunter, authorized by Governor 
Swanson, to represent Virginia, and last but not least, 
Ciovernor AVillson has designated Col. Bennett H. Young, 
our mutual fi'iend and loyal supporter, as Kentucky's 
representative. 

Ohio will gladly set apart to Pennsylvania and Vir- 
ginia sufficient ground on which to erect a suitable memo- 
rial. And, as the Maumee Valley Pioneer and Historical 
Association owns the gi-ounds where the Kentucky sol- 
diers are buried, that Association will gladly deed to 
Kentucky sufficient ground on which to erect a monument 
to her soldiers; all of whom have hallowed these grounds 
and made us so largely their debtors. 

Although it is nearly a century since the great drama 
that fixed tluMr fame as patriots and heroes, and as our 
benefactors, we have the happy privilege of proving that 
we aic not foigetfiil or ungrateful, and that their fame 
picseived in history and tradition, did not die with their 
gcneiation, bnt has lived to inspire this generation with 
the liveliest emotions of love and gratitude, and we are 
glad today to dedicate this beautiful shaft of enduring 
granite, erected by the State of Ohio, to the heroic and 
])atriotic services of the men of 1S1:{, who consecrated 
these grounds. 

It would be (]uite imiM)ssible for me to give due praise 
to those outside of the Legislatui^, who have performed 
si)ecial services in forwarding this work, but I desire to 
say, with all participating, it has been a work of love, and 



15 

in their work they have been encouraged and rewarded by 
the generous sympathy of the people generally. 

Labors of the Association. 

I can not forego making special mention of the untir- 
ing efforts of the members of the .Maumee Valley Pioneer 
and Historical Association, without whose help this work 
would not have been begun or accomplished. 

I am pleased to say that the efforts of the committee 
have been encouraged on all occasions by Governor Harris 
and members of the Legislature from this district. The 
committee in charge of the erection of this monument has 
held many meetings, and their actions have been harmoni- 
ous and pleasant. They have formed a friendship which 
will always exist, and they have given to the State of Ohio 
their best possible service. 

And now to you, Governor Harris, as representative 
of the State of Ohio, I deliver this hallowed property and 
commit this sacred trust, with the satisfying confidence 
that the property will be faithfully preserved and the 
trust faithfully discharged. 

Besides this. Governor Harris, it is my pleasure to ask 
you to kindly take charge as chairman, of the further ex- 
ercises of the day. 

Monument Unveiled. 

At the conclusion of the address, David Robison, Jr., 
of Toledo, whose fatliei" was one of the soldiers at Fort 
Meigs, unveiled the monument, the battery fired twenty- 
one guns, and the band played "The Star Spangled Ban 
ner." 

GOV. HARRIS RESPONDS 

In Accepting the Monument on Behalf of Ohio. 

Gov. Harris accepted the monunient on behalf of the 
state in the following response: 
Mr. Chairman, Members of Fort Mciys Commission, 

Ladies and Gentlemen: 

The dedication of a monument is always a beautiful 



16 

and impressive ceremony. Tins is especially so if the 
monument be one to commemorate some unselfish act, 
some sacrifice made for humanity, or some noble and 
heroic service rendered to the nation. This towering- 
shaft which we dedicate today commemorates all these 
things, and more. It at once serves to perpetuate the 
memory of those who struggled so bravely to save this 
territory to the United States, and is an inspiration of 
patriotism to the generations of the future. 

The Maumee Valley had long been the home of the 
Indians, it was a popular thoroughfare for the movements 
of the settlers and Indians, and its possession was much 
desired by both the liritish and Americans. It had been 
the scene of Wayne's victory over the Indians in 1794, and 
of important operations in the war of 1812. 

In June, 1S12, the army of General Hull marched 
from Urbana, through the present counties of Hardin, 
Hancock and Wood, into Michigan, crossing the Maumee 
near where Fort Meigs was later built. Un the 16th of 
August the discouraging news went abroad of Hull's sur- 
render at Detroit. 

During the same months. General Edward \V. Tup- 
per of Gallia County, recruited about one thousand men 
in Gallia, Lawrence and Jackson counties for six months' 
service, and under orders of General Winchester, proceed- 
ed by Hull's route from Urbana to the foot of the Maumee 
Kapids. He endeavored to cross the river in the night but 
the rapidity of the current was so great that with the 
weakened and almost starving condition of men and 
horses the task was unsuccessful. The enemy soon after 
assend)led in superior numbers an<l attacked Tupper in 
camp, but were repulsed with great loss. After this en- 
gagement the command was taken back to Fort McArthur. 

On January 10, 1813, General Wiiiclu-ster marched 
\\ith Ids troops from Fort Wayne and Defiance to the 
rapids, where he camped until the 17th of the month, 
when the march northward was resumed. On January 
22d, at the River Raisin, General Winchester was dis- 
astrously defeated, his army being almost completely 
wiped out. 



17 

The surrender of Hull, the retreat of Tupper, and the 
defeat of Winchester had been very discouraging to the 
American cause. General Harrison proceeded with great 
energy to gather a new force of soldiers. The reputation 
and ability of General Harrison gave new hope to the 
people, and the conhdence he inspired at this time was 
similar to that held by General Wayne when he took com- 
mand after the defeats of Generals Harmar and St. Clair. 

The first thought of General Harrison was to with- 
draw all troops from northwestern Ohio and retreat to 
the interior of the State, but he finally decided to build a 
strong fort upon the southern bank of the Maumee at the 
foot of the rapids. This was to be a supply station and a 
base of operations against Canada and Detroit. The site 
of the fort was selected by General Harrison, with Cap- 
tains Wood and Gratiot, and construction was begun on 
February 2, 1813. As the British were in possession of 
Lake Erie, this was a strategic point of great importance, 
lying directly on the route to Canada. The position was 
most favorable for offense and defense, and as a point for 
the concentration of troops and supplies of the states. Ii 
offered obstruction to invasions by the British and Indians 
from the north. The fort was named Fort Meigs, in 
honor of Return Jonathan Meigs, the Governor of Ohio. 

In reading the history of the selection of the site for 
and the construction and sturdy defense of Fort Meigs 
we are impressed with the peculiar ability of General 
Harrison as a sagacious, resourceful and far-seeing com- 
mander. 

Some of the details of this fort showed the greatest 
ingenuity and originality. One only need be mentioned. 
On the edge of the embankment in front of the river side 
of the fort was a row of large hollow sycamore logs, sev- 
eral feet in diameter and ten or twelve feet long, lying 
lengthwise. They were filled with heavy boulders, and 
each cut held in place on the edge of the embankment by a 
rope passed into the wall of the fort. In case of an attack 
up this bank by the enemy, the ropes were to be cut and 
the heavy logs sent crashing down upon them. 

That the British early saw the strategic value of 




GOVERNOR ANDREW L. HARRIS 



Fort Meigs and its iiieuace to tlie success of their plans is 
evidenced by the fact that General Proctor and his Indian 
allies laid siege to it on two different occasions. 

The first siege beiian Ai)ril 27, 1813, and was con- 
tinued for fourteen days, ;ind the second siege began July 
20, 1813, and lasted eight days. The British planted 
four batteries, known as ''King's l>att<'ry," "Queen's Bat- 
tery," "Sailor's Battery," and the "Mortar Battery," upon 
the opposite bank of the river, in spite of the incessant 
tire from the guns of tlie fort. Kealizing that his force 
was inadequate, having an available force of less than 
eight hundred men. General Harrison dispatched a brave 
officer, Captain AVilliam Oliver-, to hasten the advance of 
General Green Clay, whom he knew to be on the way with 
a force of his Kentuckians. 

On the third night of the siege some British and In- 
dians crossed the river below Fort Meigs and sheltered by 
a ravine planted on its margin, southeastw-ard from the 
fort and within t^\•o hundi-ed and fifty yards, two batter- 
ies. From these batteries, and from the Indians in the 
trees of the vicinity, the gai-rison was subjected to a dam- 
aging tire. The next moi-ning General Proctor sent to 
General Harrison a request to surrender, and to the of- 
ficer who bore the request Harrison replied, "Tell your 
general that if he obtains jMissession of this fort it will be 
under circumstances that will (ht him far more honor than 
would my surrender." 

General Harrison, on the night of May 4th, sent 
^^'ord to General Clay, wlio with his army was descending 
the river in 18 large barges, to come down the river, land 
eight hundred men on the north bank to seize and spike 
the Britisli guns and then to at (uice cross over to Fort 
^leigs. Colonel Dudley, being second in command under 
General Clay, led the landing party. They landed about 
a mih' al)Ove the battci-ies, formed his men in three lines 
and marched silently down upon the liritish in the dark- 
ness. They charged upon the guns with the bayonet, the 
artillerymen and Indians, comi^letely surjtrised, fieeing 
for their lives. Instead of obeying the orders of (Jcnci-al 
Harrison and retreating across tlie liver to the fort, iMid- 



20 

ley's men, elated by their success in capturing the bat- 
teries, went in pursuit of the fleeing Indians, into the for- 
est. Away from the fort in the forest, a multitude of In- 
dians rose up about them, and from behind trees toma- 
hawks were hurled at them and shots came thick from am- 
bush. Realizing their mistake, the men began a hasty 
retreat toward the river, but in the meantime a force oi 
British had come from Port Miami and thrown themselves 
between the Americans and the river. About one hun- 
dred and fifty cut their way through and made their escape 
to the fort, at least two hundred were cut to pieces by the 
Indians and about four hundred fell captives. Many of 
the captives on the way to Fort Miand Avere butchered 
by the savages. 

The battle on the other side of the river had a more 
happy termination. The four hundred of General Clay^s 
men who landed on the south bank, succeeded in reaching 
the fort in safety. Later the garrison made a brilliant 
and successful sortie from the south gate and captured 
and spiked all the guns of the batteries on the ravine, be- 
sides capturing about fifty prisoners, two of them British 
officers. 

An armistice was now declared, for the purpose of 
effecting exchange of prisoners and burying the dead, 
which was taken advantage of by General Harrison to get 
into the fort the ammunition and supplies that had come 
in the boats. The batteries again resumed their fire, but 
the Indians had become weary of the siege, sickness broke 
out among the British, and the Canadian militiamen be- 
gan to desert. The siege was soon abandoned, and the 
enemy withdrew, except Tecumseh, who determined to re- 
main upon the ground with about four hundred of his 
Shawanese braves. 

The bravery of the Americans during the siege of 
Fort Meigs was the same dashing sort which has charac- 
terized the American soldier in all our wars. It was 
really the fearless spirit of Colonel Dudley's men, after 
they had captured the British batteries, which led them 
into the ah.lMish. The feat of Col. Miller and his 19th 
Regulars in capturing the two batteries on the edge of the 



ravine at the left of the fort was a brilliant one. In this 
Captain (afterwards Colonel) Croohan, who later dis- 
tinguished himself at Fort Stephenson, had a conspicuous 
part. 

During the siege of Fort Meigs from May 1st to the 
5th, the garrison, in the sorties and within the fort, had 
eighty-one killed and one hundred and eighty-nine wound- 
ed, aside from the number of Colonel Dudley's troops 
which were massacred. The British force engaged was in 
all 3,200, while the American force numbered 1,200, in all. 
The second siege of the fort was laid on July 20th, 
1813, General Proctor, at the solicitation of Tecumseh, 
having returned with a force of about .5,000, while General 
Harrison was at Lower Sandusky, and General Green 
Clay was in charge of the fort. The fort at this time was 
defended by only a few hundred men. General Clay dis- 
patched Captain McCune to apprise General Harrison of 
the situation. General Harrison returned word to Clay 
to be particularly cautious against surprises, and that 
efforts would be made to send relief. Captain McCune 
and his escort had a narrow escape in returning to the 
fort, but finally succeeded, and delivered the message 
from General Harrison. 

Tecumseh had worked up a plot to deceive the garri- 
son. In the afternoon of the day Captain McCune re- 
turned the British infantry were hidden in the ravine be- 
low the fort, and the cavalry in the woods above, while the 
Indians stationed themselves in the forest, on the road 
near the fort. Near dark they began a sham battle with 
each other, in the effort to lead the Americans to believe 
that a battle was going on between a re-enforcing party 
and the enemy, and to entice them from the fort to the 
relief. Many of the garrison were deceived and flew to 
arms, and some of the officers insisted upon marching out, 
but General Clay dissuaded them. A shower of rain end- 
ed the mock engagement soon afterward. The eneuiy re- 
mained about the fort but a short time after this, and on 
the 28th of July they gathered up their stores and pro- 
ceeded down tlie Lake and to Fort Stephenson. In their 
attack on Fort Stephenson, which was commanded by 



22 

Colonel Croghan, the British and Indians met with a ter- 
rible repulse. 

After tliese two sieges, Fort Meigs continued to be an 
iiiil)<)rtant base of opei'ations against the enemy. It was 
from here that Harrison's ariiiv wvnt in ]>nrsnit of Proc- 
tor and Tecnmseh when they tied from Mahh'n, overtaking 
them at the Tliames, whei-e Tecnmseh was shun and the 
British signally defeated. 

A recent writer, closing an interesting sketch of 
Fort Meigs, says: 

''The important part which Fort Meigs play- 
ed in the war can now l)e seen. It was the rally- 
ing point for troo])S, and the great storehouse of 
supplies for the western ai'iiiy. It was the Gib- 
raltar of the ]\raunuH' Valley and rolled back the 
tide of British invasion while Terry was cutting 
his green ship timbers from the forest around 
Erie, and it was to Harrison at Vovi Meigs that 
Perry's Avorld-famed dispatch came when the 
British fleet had struck their colors oft' Put-in- 
Bay: 'We have met the enemy, and they are 
ours.' " 

In conclusion, gentlemen of the Fort ^ieigs rommis- 
sion, in the name of the State of Ohio, I accept from y<uir 
hands this monument, dedicated to American patriotism. 
T wish to commend yon gentlemen of the f\unmission for 
the satisfactory, bnsiness like ;ind efficient nmnner in 
whicli y(»n have com])let(Ml the work assigned yon. I also 
desire to congratnlate the members of the Manmee Valley 
Pioneer Association ui)on the fact that their efforts to 
secure a memorial to Fort .Afeigs Imve been so fittingly re- 
warded. Let us hope that this nionnment may stand here 
for ages, an object of ])i'ide and veneration to the people 
of our State, and an inspiration to the keenest apprecia- 
tion of our ci^ic duties and the highest sense of patriotism. 



HON. ROBEET S. MURPHY. 

Address of the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania. 
At the conclusion of his response Governor Harris introduced 
Lieutenant Governor Murphy of Pennsylvania, who, on the part 
(;f his state, expressed its thanks and profound interest in Fort 
Meigs and this commemoration in an address that elicited the 
closest attention and was clothed with oratorical power seldom 
(■(luaUed. Gov. Murphy said: 

Conditions of Country in 1812. 

This splendid memorial in lienor of our country's dead points 
to a crucial period in the national life. 

The thunder of the guns at A'orktown had ended the Revolu- 
tionary contest for liberty. The young jS[ation staggering to its 
feet had taken its first full hreath of independence. The long 
wished for peace had come with honor, and just hopes were enter- 
tained for the enjoyment of those sovereign privileges for which 
so much had been given in sacrifice. In every walk of life the 
freshening spirit oF liberty infused new energy. Labor lifted up 
its arms, aiul trade was filled with joy. Our commercial interests 
were aroused to a high state of activity, and this strikingly 
ap])ear('d in our mei'cantile marine, which, through the fortunes 
oi' war. had been ahiiost totally destroyed. The skill of our sail- 
ors, the sju'cd of our ships, were only matched by the enterprising 
spirit of our nwrchants. Our sails were whitening eveiy sea, 
;ind so i'a|Mn was our progress upon the water in gathering the 
trade of I be world that (Jreat Britain became justly fearful of her 
hitherto unchallenged supremacy. 

Tbioughout the English Empire the "American peril," as it 
was teniie(l, awakened the spii'its of eoiiiniercial envy and avarice 
to the highest degiv;'. Tbeir mniiireslations appeared in policies 
so oppressive to Aiiiei'ieau iidcrests upon the high seas and our 
ports of eittrv, iliai relief was only [)ossible by resort to force. 
The prolonged conflict of France under Napoleon with England, 
our chief opyionent. produced a coiulition of affairs in which this 
country, altliough neutral in every sense, was destined to be 
ground between the upper and nether stone. The outrage- 
ous taking of American seamen from American ships and sub- 
jecting them to servic-e in tlie English Navy, coupled with the 
restrictions to our expanding comimerce, continued for a long 
pi-riod and brought about the predestined result. 



24 

The numberless acts of this character at the hands of Eng- 
land justified the exercise of warlike force. But every measure 
known to peaceful diplomacy was resorted to before proceeding to 
that extremity, chief among which may be mentioned the famous 
retaliatory measures adopted under the Administration of Mr. 
Jefferson and known as the "Embargo and N"on-Tntercourse 
Acts." The importation of goods from England was prohibited, 
?nd likewise our merchants were probibited from exporting our 
products abroad. All of these things worked their natural result ; 
trade suffocated, and the rights of our citizens continued to be in 
,ieopardy. Erom this state of affairs there was but one recourse 
against the mighty power of England. A realizing sense of this 
fact finally took possession of the country : the men whose hearts 
and memories were yet alive to the glories of tbe struggle for inde- 
pendence united in violent and patriotic protest against tbe 
further infraction of their rights as citizens and impositions upon 
their trade. 

Singularly and unfortunately the condition of the public 
mind at this period was marked by the most lamentable discord. 
Unanimity of opinion in support of the rights of the country at 
large did not exist. The timid and vacillating foreign policy — 
peaceable coercion as it was called — Avhich distinguished Mr. Jef- 
ferson's two administrations and found its most marked expres- 
sion in the "Embargo and Non-Intercourse Acts" had many s^mi- 
pathizers. The spirit of selfishness was abroad, and the courage 
of the people was correspondingly affected. The National spirit 
seemed at its lowest ebb and belief in the power of Great Britain 
to crush us at will existed almost without limit. To this condi- 
tion and belief the defenseless state of the country from a naval 
and military standpoint gave added strength and conviction. 

Delayed Struggle Comes at Last. 
Mr. Madison's Admjnistralion as the successor of Mr. Jeffer- 
son's came into power when the commercial interests of the coun- 
try as the result of a long series of aggressions were prostrate in 
the dust; when patriotism seemed 1o have been supplanted by self- 
ishness; when the spirit of the people presented but a faint re- 
semblance of that of '76; when ihe hopes of a glorious future for 
the infant Nation so fondly (>ntertained had fled except from 
hearts unusually brave. The intensity of the struggle with its 
accompanying misfortunes from witliiu and from without com- 
pelled the Nation to defend its life. The result came despite an 
acrimonious division in the legislative halls of Congress that 
boded ill for the common welfare. It came out of a situation 



25 

pregnant with doubt and uncertainty, and as the result of the 
final appeal of intolerable conditions to the sleeping patriotism of 
the country. It came as the result of the indignities and insults 
of England, and as the just resentment and reply of an injured 
self-respect, whose rights could only be preserved by force. The 
ablest and most patriotic minds of the day, led by the great Clay, 
of Kentucky, and the great Calhoun, of South Carolina, forced the 
issue with the Administration, and Mr. Madison, in the spirit of 
our noblest traditions, set his hand and seal to a proclamation 
which declared a state of existing war between England and 
America. The sword of Washington was again drawn from its 
scabbard. 

Out of circumstaiices of the most discouraging nature we 
started upon the long struggle, and surely without m\ich hope of 
success. It may be said in all honesty that no Nation ever com- 
menced hostilities with another Power with less force at its com- 
mand. Under the great Jefferson our Navy had almost ceased 
to exist and our Armv was hardlv equal to the police force of one 
of our great cities. Yet if we did not possess the men and ships, 
we did have in the greed of England the richest provocation. Indi- 
vidual and national rights smarterl under grievous injurv. The 
future libertv of the country was at stake, and the accumulated 
wrongs pricked the temper of the people with quickening power. 
Into full life arose the characteristic qualities of American man- 
hood which had wrung from the crown at the point of the sword 
the priceless boon of self-government. The Nation commenced to 
realize that Franklin was right when he declared that the war 
ending with the surrender of Cornwallis was simplv the war of 
the Eevolution, and that the war of independence was yet to be 
fought. Every one began to understand that upon the outcome 
of the War of 1812 depended the security and the continuance of 
national life. Upon the highway of neace and progress the career 
and destiny of a great people was halterl to await the result. To 
the credit of our country be it said the conflict which followed 
placed in high relief the strongest qualities of our race. The 
people of the various States became uniterl in a common purpose 
under the rallying cry of "freedom of trade and sailors' rights." 
The unprovoked causes of war fillerl them with the necessity and 
the desire to be forever free from oppression at the hands of a for- 
eign Power. The crisis taught the lesson of self-reliance and ban- 
ished for nil tim-e fears of conquest on land or sea. 
Brilliant Triumphs on Land and Sea. 
The war as it proceeded produced men and ships. The 



26 

record made by our countrymen excites the noblest admiration. 
No more brilliant chapter of bravery and heroism distinguishes 
the history of any laud. True, we triumphed in a marked degree 
upuii the sea, vet the valor exhibited by our soldiers as attested in 
and about this historic spot contributed no less than did our sail- 
fM-s to tlie humiliation of Eugland and the glory of America. 
Xolhiii-;- in our national life stirs our hearts with greater fervor 
ihan tlie victories that humbled the great .sea power of Britain. 
Our pulse boats high when we think of how our young but vigorous 
Xavv (h'stroyed the boasted invineil)ility of the British sailor. 
Oui- |)atnotisni is exalted when we think of the victories of the 
lii-ave Hull, and the e(|ually ])rave Bainbridge in "Old Ironsides;" 
of the gallant Decatur in the "Ignited States;" of the triumphs 
of McDonough anil I'eri'v on the waters of Champlain and Erie; 
:iud in sadness and thankfidness we remeuiber the dying message 
<d' the lamented Lawrence on the decks of the ill-fated Chesa- 
l»eake. si>okeu not only to his sailors, but to all his countrymen: 
••l)(m"t give up the sbip." T'i)on the land our flag waved in vic- 
torv and (hd'eat. Connuauding leadership aud coherency of action 
was ahsi'ut. \ci out of disaster which shook the stoutest heart came 
ihe lili'ssing of \iclory. The undisci])lined troops, frontiersmen 
anil rariuej's. with hut Few ivgiilars, faced the veterans of Welling- 
ton fresh from thcii- triumphs over the soldiers of Napoleon in 
S|)aiii, aud as courageously met the "luirchased savage," whose 
>hamele>s atrocitits upon men, women and children form a sick- 
( uing episode in oui' hisloi'v and hi-and the British (lovernment of 
that da\- with the indelihic stain of iidiumauity. 

'riic hra\ci-\- and de\()tion of a people lighting for home and 
count I'v are the most pot<'ntial foi'ces in war. Tn strong colors 
these (pudiiics n\' t)\\y couutrviuen appeared in this prolonged 
strife. Despite llic lack of uien and ecpiipment of the country 
for wai-. the gr<'at hduiulary of the \oilliwest — the open door 
thi-ough which the cikmun' ruslx'd^was successfully defended. 
The uu foi'tunate surrender of tei'i'itorv and uien at Detroit was 
redeemed iiy the hra\c]'\ of tlu' .Vmeriean arms in many actions. 
At IjundyV Lane, at ('hipp«'wa. at ()ueeustown, at the Thames, 
ami ending with the triuiitph of Jackson at New Orleans, the 
recoi-d of our soldiers was written high upon the roll of fame. 
Soldiers \\\\o Died at Fort Meigs. 

Where we stand today by the watei-s (d' the Maumee the con- 
flict was waged with a iiercent'ss and ciTielty unsurpassed. Here 
were enacted scenes and incidents of blood and slaughter whose 
memory yet chills the blood. Here was witnessed the gathering 




HON. ROBERT S. MURPHY 



28 

of rnany men filled with the courage of patriotism. Here came 
as a Captain of men the great Harrison, destined for brighter 
distinction than the laurels of Tippecanoe. With him rode the 
distinguished Shelby, of Kentucky, who had fought with Sevier at 
King's Mountain, where the right arm of Cornwallis was broken. 
A host of others were marshalled under their leadership, among 
whom were the gallant Clay, of Kentucky, and the brave Crooks, 
of Pennsylvania. 

Today we commemorate in appropriate stone the self-sacrifice 
of those who, summoned from peaceful homes, cheerfully surren- 
dered life upon the altar of their country. Within these hallowed 
precincts lie the men of Ohio, of Indiana, of Virginia, of Ken- 
tucky, and of Pennsylvania's contribution, the valiant soldiers of 
the Pittsburg Blues. The record of their deeds and sacrifices 
will ever animate their countrymen. Through those who follow- 
ed the colors the remorseless hand of England was stayed, and the 
arm of the savage paralyzed. The great northwestern country 
rnaching into the Valley of the Mississippi remained undespoiled. 
To those who died here was given the privilege of contributing in 
the highest degree to the preservation of the Eepublic. This 
splendid memorial testifies to the appreciation which we feel today 
for those who gave the fullest measure of service to the country. 
May it remain for all time as a living example to generations yet 
to come of the constancy and devotion that made us a Nation 
among the nations of the earth. 

Peace With Honor. 
I'eace with honor came at last, and with it an independence 
that has never been challenged by a foreign foe. The lesson 
taught by the heroic dead whose bones sanctify this ground, must 
never be forgotten. It matters not how smooth may be the course 
of government, experience tells us that the time will surely arii?e 
when in order to preserve what we love and revere, the example set 
by the heroes of the past must be followed ; when the call of the 
country will demand the highest price; when unforseen difficulties 
abroad, and possibly at home, will require us to put in bondage 
our liberties and posses'^ions ; when justice and self-respect will 
command us to place in the balance the future happiness of our- 
selves and institutions. Let us ever be ready to meet the responsi- 
bilities of self-government. Let not the fear of enemies at home 
or abroad permit us to yield those sacred rights and privileges 
which were obtained at the sacrifice of blood and treasure. 
Period of National Development. 
The successful termination of the War of 1812 marked the 



29 

commencement of a remarkable period of activity. This gi-eat 
territory of the iSTorthwest, freed from tlie danger of the savage 
and invasion from the JSTorth, became the point toward which 
moved an emigration from all parts of the country that was 
extraordinary to behold. Then was lirst seen the emigrant with 
his family, his goods, and chatties loaded upon the white-covered 
canvas wagon so famous in our history. The historian of that day 
records that the movement of population to the West was truly 
v.'onderful. Every road leading westward from the East was cov- 
ered with lines of moving wagons wending their weary way across 
streams and valleys and over hills and mountains. 

The emigration that peopled this vast area. was of the very 
flower of the East and South. They came in the spirit of the 
pioneer, armed in truth and virtue, and seeking only at first the 
humblest home for shelter. Then was seen the clearing in the 
wilderness; then came the famous log cabin, with its doors swung 
on leather hinges and the broad open fireplace that fui-nished heat 
and light and bade a welcome to every guest. It was in such 
homes that the princes and kings of the people were born. No 
man today in this great free country can boast of a higher patent 
of nobility than that his ancestor was born in the wilderness of the 
West under the roof of the log cabin dedicated to freedom, virtue, 
and independence. 

Spirit of ISTationalism. . 
Out of the struggles and misfortunes of that time came the 
spirit of nationalism. It magnetically drew together the people 
of the various sections of the country. It pointed the pathway 
toward our national destiny. It proclaimed -to every intelligent 
mind the necessity of a common unity and a common purpose. 
Under its inspirations the great march of the years commenced. 
Freedom from danger abroad and from dissension at home 
spurred the genius of the people to the highest degree. In the 
great movement toward a higher life, that came as sunshine and 
rain to the thirsty soil, resentments were forgotten, peace was pro- 
claimed, and the burdens of the days and years were borne with 
the cheerfulness of patriotism. 

In the birth of nationalism which signalized the second war 
for independence with England is found the overshadowing power 
which preserved this country one and indivisible. It was a matter 
of slow growth and slower realization, but in time it became an 
animating thought and impulses; and in the rising tide of its 
power it carried the country through trials and difficulties which 
threatened the national life. Today the strength and power of 



30 

this patriotic s])irit is the subject of the united loyalty and devo- 
tion of all our countrymen. It is typified in the highest form of 
government known to man, a great central authority justly guard- 
ing the life of the various states, and in which the rights of one 
i'.rr as sacred as the rights of all. 

Step by step we have advanced to a place in the front rank 
among the nations. We are witnessing the greatest triumphs in 
science and trade: in a growtli of population and commercial pro- 
gress unjiarallcK'd l)y the achievements of any time; in a prosperity 
exceeding the fondest anticipation of the statc^sman and giving to 
the millions of our country a greater degree of comfort and hap- 
piness tliaii e\ei' experienced by a people. The record surpasses 
description, and places upon us the responsibility of its perpetua- 
tion. Tlic situation requires the most wise and resolute good 
faith at home and ahi'oad. \\'c liave grown in opulence and 
wealth. Tor tlic last few ycai's hav<' giveji hirth to a gigantic 
coniini'i'cc. ill wisdom it must he pr()tec-t('(l ajid extended. Our 
great waterways must be improved and our mercantile marine re- 
stored to its fornuM- prestige and power. Our people must remain 
coiilcnted and loyal, and our Governnu'iit must niaint<iin its integ- 
rity amoiig (he nations of the earth. We must ever remember 
"the lesson of iiii|)ri'])aredness"" taught by the war whose heroic 
dead sleej) about us the sleejt that knows no waking. 

Our Responsibility. 

Today a responsibility imposed ujjon every nation of the earth 
rests upon us. W'e must see to it thai through no failure of ours 
are the interests of citizens neglecti'(l. Having wealth and power 
at our command, all things must be done to conserve the country 
in time of peace and ])rotect it^ in time of war. 

Today our flag is honored on e\erv sea and respected in every 
poll. Our citizens abroad iwv safe from intrusion and interfer- 
ence. 'I'lie statesmanship of the country in response to the ad- 
\ancing gt'uius of the age has made this condition possible and at 
the same time has created the highest guarantee of peace with the 
nations of the earth. The lessons of the past have been observed. 
'I'oday our shores are safe from attack without, and under the 
\\a\ing banner which we all love floats one of the most splendid 
jiaval ai-maments of the world to police the Atlantic and Pacific 
in the pea(<'ful interests of American commerce. Let us in this 
presence renew our devotion to country. Let us gather increased 
inspiration from the memory of those whose bravery we today re- 
call. Let us consecrate ourselves anew to the spirit of liberty, to 
the spirit of honesty, to the s])irit of Divine justice, npon which 



31 

the glory and greatness of this splendid country must ever and 
always depend. 

FLAG PEESBNTATION. 

Following the address of Governor Mui-phy. a large flag was 
pi-esented by Attorney George F. Kirby, of Toledo, in a few well 
chosen words, on behalf of the Toledo National Union. This flag 
Hies from a high mast erected near the nionuniient. In a well 
worded acceptance the same was received by Governor Harris, 
after which the Water\illc Chorus Clioii- sang "See Our Banner 
Floating O'er Us." 

GEN. BENNETT H. YOUNG. 

Address of Kentucky's Favorite Sou on Behalf of That State. 

Next came the introduction Ijy (iovernor Harris of the silver- 
haired southerner and silver-tongued orator, of Confederate fame, 
Gen. Bennett H. Young, of Louisville, who gave the following 
eloquent address, which was fre(iuently interrupted by storms of 
applause : 

It is, I know, a great disa})pointment to this vast assemblage 
to learn tliat Gov. Willson cannot be present today to speak for the 
State of Kentucky and Ium- three millions of grateful people. 
Old}' the hand of disease cotdd have prevented his coming. He 
appreciates this splendid afEering of this great State of Kentucky's 
heroic dead, and he would have charmed and delighted you with 
his burning eloquence in recounting the suft'erings and sacrifices 
and courage ancl self denial of the Kcntncky men who here laid 
down their gallant lives for the glory and honor of the Eepublic, 
and the Commonwealth which sent them here to uphold the Na- 
tion's honor and the Nation's Hag. lie has commissioned me to 
take his place and speak in his naniic. You will doubtless feel 
that you demanded oratorical bread and he has given you in re- 
sponse a stone, but I come moved with the same great love for 
Kentucky, and the achievements of her sons, that would thrill his 
heart and quicken his tongue, a;nd I crave at. your hands a patient 
and kindly iKMiring, even if an humble Confederate soldier stands 
in the place of a distinguished Republican Governor. 
The War of 1812. 

The war of 1812 was one of tremendous importance to the 
future development of the United States. Although thirty years 
had elapsed since the declaration of peace after the war of the 
]^■volulion. th(^ relations between England and the United States 



32 

had never been harmonious or complacent. There had grown up 
in England, among many of its leading men, the idea that in some 
way the United States would return to their allegiance to Great 
Britain. 

The English people were never satisfied with the result of the 
War of Independence; they never believed that they were fairly 
vanquished in that struggle, and there was a strong undercurrent 
in the English nation, which if it did not suggest, at least desired 
another test of arms. 

England, then the greatest nation on earth, felt her power. 
She was insolent, domineering and rude to the United States. 
The English felt that they had nothing to lose by war with the 
United States, but had much to gain, therefore, American rights 
were ignored and American protests given no consideration what- 
ever. 

Through a long line of mean, petty aggressions, England 
placed the United States in a position where war became necessary. 
Many of the American people thought the conduct of the 
administration of Washington was pusillanimous; especially in 
the Southern and Southwestern States public spirit had long be- 
fore demanded an appeal to arms as the only vindication of Ameri- 
can nationality. These outrages continued until James Madison, 
then President of the United States, on June 1, 1813, in a mes- 
tage to Congress stated: 

"We behold in fine on the side of Great Britain, a state of 
war against the United States, and on the side of the United 
States a state of peace to Great Britain." 

Every humiliation that could be suggested was heaped upon 
the United States, and on the 18th of June, 1812, war was de- 
clared, and on the 19th of June, President Madison issued a 
proclamation of war. 

What Vote Showed. 
The vote in Congress demonstrated that England was right 
and that there was an existing sentiment of dissatisfaction 
rinongst some of the people and a willingness for the return of 
their allegiance to Great Britain. Rhode Island, Connecticut and 
Delaware voted solidly against the war. New York voted three 
for the war and eleven against it, while Pennsylvania voted sixteen 
for war and two against it, and South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky 
and Tennessee recorded their solid vote for the commencement of 
hostilities. The young republic, with only 17,000,000 people, with 
no ships, with no arsenals of any consequence, still hugging the 
Atlantic with its vast sea line, was in no condition to enter into 







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34 

a death struggle with the greatest maritime nation in the world, 
and the willingness of Mr. Madison and liis associates to force 
war, with such a slight majority, six in the Senate and thirty-six 
in the House, exhibited the highest patriotism and undaunted 
courage. This difference of sentiment hampered American effort 
and affected American enthusiasm. It made the soldiers less 
brave and the Generals less responsible. With foes in front and 
foes behind, few men can lead an army to great victory. The 
States that were to suffer most evidenced the greatest zeal in the 
conflict. Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia and Ohio, with savages 
on one side and the British soldiers on the other, were insistent 
for hostilities and were pleased when the time came for the great 
struggle. The anti-war spirit was especially strong in New Eng- 
land and the representatives of Massachusetts, Connecticut and 
iS'ew Jersey protested against the war, and the shipping interests 
of Boston hung their flags at half mast as an expression of their 
disapproval of the coming war. 

While this was to bring immeasurable suffering and sorrow to 
the people of many portions of the United* States, yet it was to 
produce results which in the future of the republic would more 
than comjjensate for all that was lost in men and money in the 
two and a half years of conflict. 

As we gather about this monument, built ninety-five years 
after the siege, the gallantry of the volunteers which it is to com- 
memorate, we can only regret that so long a period has elapsed 
without a recognition of the suffering, the courage and the sacri- 
fices of the men who held this part of Ohio and its contiguous 
territory against the incursion of the English and their Indian 
allies, supplied with guns and ammunition bought by English 
money and in a large part ollicercd by British soldiers. 

I^ugland with all her greatness and all her glory has some 
hideous and hateful spots upon her escutcheon. Wyoming, Kaisin, 
Meigs, Huddles Station, and hundreds of oilier horrible massacres 
of lielpless women and children, all crimes against their own kins- 
men and descendants, stood out with appalling horror in the t^yes 
of the civilized world and became an offense against the justice of 
the merciful Ivuler of the universe. 

There was never a period from the commencement of the 
Ivevolutionary War down to 1815, the close of the War of 1812, 
tliat England was not indirectly and most of the time advising 
and urging upon the Indians to commit trespasses upon helpless 
women and children, in order that the power of England might 



35 

be enlarged and in order that their commercial advantages might 
be increased. 

"Kest on, embalmed and sainted dead, 

Dear as the blood we gave; 
No impious footsteps here shall tread 

The herbage of your grave; 
Nor shall your glory be forgot 

While fame her record keeps. 
Or honor point the hallowed spot 

Where valor proudly sleeps. 

"Yon marble minstrel voiceful stone 

In deathless song shall tell 
When many a vanquished age hath flown 

The story how you fell; 
A^or wreck, nor change, nor winter's blight, 

Nor time's remorseless doom 
Can dim one ray of holy light 

That gilds your glorious tomb." 

Following Gen. Young's address, the Waterviile Chorus gave 
'My Old Kentucky Home" in which the General heartily joined, 
singing with a vim that brought out prolonged applause. 

MAJOR ROBERT W. HUNTER. 

Stirring and Forcible Address of Virginia's Representative. 
Next on the program was the introduction of Major Robert 
W. Hunter, representing Virginia, also a Confederate veteran. 
During his address extolling the superiority and valor of the na- 
tive sons of Virginia a good natured exchange of wit and re- 
partee with General Young, in contrasting the merits of the sons 
of Kentucky and Virginia, provoked much laughter and applause 
from the attentive and interested hearers. The complete address 
of Major Hunter follows: 

Governor Harris, Gentlemen of the Ft. Meigs Monument Com- 
mission, Ladies and Gentlemen: 

Governor Swanson has requested me to express his regret 
that he could not be present to participate in person in the dedi- 
etitory exercises of this monument, which the State of Ohio has 
elected in memory of the brave men who fought and fell in the 
battle and during the siege of Fort Meigs — that he might speak for 
himself and the people of Virginia, and exchange cordial greet- 
ings with his countrymen of Ohio, Kentucky and Pennsylvania, 



36 

whose representatives have gathered here today, in honor of the 
men of their respective States — whose valor and whose blood com- 
mingled here, well nigh a century ago, to rescue this fair region 
from alien and savage domination— a patriotic service and sacri- 
fice which will, forever, throw a halo around this memorial shaft. 

Kising as it does in purity and stillness above the din and 
smoke of our modern materialistic life it will exalt men's minds 
to noble thoughts and inspire men's hearts to noble deeds by re- 
calling the strenuous pioneer days, and the heroic men and heroic 
deeds which marked tlie "Winning of the West!" 

In this expanding and formative period of our country's his- 
tory, Virginians were ever at the front, and on the tiring lines; 
and we cannot help feeling proud on this interesting commemora- 
tive occasion, as we recall briefly the epoch-making men and 
achievements which have crowned the career of the Mother-Com- 
monwealth with unfading lustre and enduring fame, as "Westward 
the Star of Empire took its way !" Sober statement with regard 
to them seems like exaggeration, and plain language like rhetoric. 

"But let another praise thee, and not thine own lips,"', said 

the Psalmist; so I call no less a witness than President Koosevelt, 

who, despite the fact that lu^ was born in New York, has achieved 

greatness; and whose testimony no Anaiiias will dare to question. 

Virginia's Brave Sons. 

In response to an address welcoming him to Richmond the 
President said: "On the honor-roll of those American worthies 
whose greatness is iiol (uily for the age, but for all time; not only 
for the nation, but for all ilie w(U-id — on this honor-roll Virginia 
stands above all others."" haniel Webster in one of his grand 
orations said: "if she had done nothing else but furnish to the 
world the charactcsr of Washington, this alone would have entitled 
her to the respect and admiration of mankind." 

As early as 177T, iimli'i- licr royal grant, the Ceorge-Rogers- 
Clarke Expedition, which was organized by Patrick Henry, then 
(iovernor of Virginia, and advised by Washington and Jelfersou, 
explored and rescued, after fierce and l)Ioody warfare, the region 
west of tlu^ Ohio, and beyond the limits of Illinois and the 
Wabash, and confirmed Virginia's title to the great Northwest 
territory. When later on, objection was made by other states that 
Virginia's vast territorial area would give her undue preponder- 
ance in the new government — with a free, self -abnegating and 
l)rineely hand, she conveyed to the United States, her Territory 
Northwest of the Ohio River "for the common benefit of the 
Union," to be segregated into distinct states, and admitted "as 




MAJOR ROBT. W. HUNTER 



38 

members of the Foederal Union, having the same rights of sov- 
ereignty, freedom and independence as the other States." This 
cession, as you are aware, embraced the region now covered by 
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and part of Min- 
nesota. - ' I 
The Lewis and Clarke exploration of the country between the 
Mississippi and Pacific Ocean, which was the conception of Presi- 
dent Jefferson — followed by his purchase of the Louisiana Terri- 
tory from Napoleon Bonaparte, added to our National Domain an 
area larger than that of the Original States, out of which 14 ricJi 
and populous states were created — the recent Centennial Celebra- 
tion of which brilliant diplomatic achievements many of you here 
present, doubtless, attended. 

And, again, the armies which acquired the larger part of 
Mexico and expanded our possessions on the Pacific Ocean into 
imperial proportions, were commanded by Virginian Generals; so 
that I am within safe bounds in claiming that no State has done 
iro much as Virginia in the creation and enlargement and enrich- 
ment of these United States, and none can point to so many stars, 
as she has set in the blue field of our National Flag. 

But I have not come to laud or magnify the Old Dominion. 
1 am here as the representative of her Governor and her people to 
express their gratification at the erection of this monument, and to 
pay their loving tribute to her brave and patriotic sons — the 
"Petersburg Volunteers" — who came from their far-off homes to 
share with their fellow-countrymen of Oliio, Kentucky and Penn- 
sylvania in the dangers, the deaths and glorious deeds, which are 
here commemorated. 

My first salntation is to William Henry Harrison, of distin- 
guished Virginia lineage, "Old Tippecanoe," whose conspicuous 
services as the Commander of the Northwestern Army of the 
United States in the War of 1812, including the battle and defense 
of Fort Meigs and the decisive victory of the Thames, were recog- 
nised by his elevation to the highest office in the gift of an appre- 
ciative people, and will be held in grateful remembrance by the 
coming generation. 

Petersburg Volunteers. 

An extract from Howe's History of Virginia is here appro- 
priate-: 

On the 21st of October, 1812. 117 young men from Pet<'rs- 
I'urg and vicinity embarked in the sen-ice of their country, and 
consecrated their valor at the battle of Fort Meigs, on the 5th of 
May, 1813. They were extensively known as the "Petersburg 



39 

Volunteers." They remained in service one yeiir and on their dis- 
charge received the following highly commendatory testimonial of 
their gallant and soldier-like conduct: 

"GENERAL ORDEES 

Headquarters, Detroit, 
17th October, 1813. 

The term of service for whieli the Petersburg Volunteers were 
engaged liaving expired, they are permitted to commence their 
march to Virginia as soon as they can be ti'ansported to the south 
side of the lake. 

In granting a discharge to this patriotic and gallant corps, 
the General feels at a loss for words adequate to convey his sense 
of their exalted merits; almost exclusively composed of individuals 
A\'ho had been nursed in the lap of ease, they have, for twelve 
months, borne the hardships and privations of military life in the 
midst of an inhospitable wilderness, with a cheerfulness and 
alacrity which has never been surpassed. Their conduct in the 
field has been excelled by no other corps, and while in camp, they 
have set an example of subordination and respect for military 
fuithority to the whole army. 

The General re(|uests Capt. McRae. his subalterns, non-com- 
missioned officers, and privates, to accept bis warmest thanks, and 
bids them an affectionate farewell. 

By Command of GEN. ITARRTSON. 
ROBERT BUTLER, 
Acting Asst. Adjutant General." 
Two Memorable Events. 

Among the many memorable and highly creditable minor 
events, in the earlier war history of Virginia, there are two that 
stand out in bold relief, the recollection of which will always touch 
a ri^sponsive chord in patriotic hearts. 

One was the "Famous Bee-line to Boston" of Morgan's rifle- 
men from AVinchester and the adjoining counties, the first volun- 
teers outside of Massachusetts, to reach General Washington, 
whon he assumed command of the American Army at the outbreak 
of the Revolution. And the other was the long, weary march 
through wilderness, swamp and jungle, of the Petersburg Volun- 
teers to the scene of hostilities on the Ohio frontier in the subse- 
quent War of 1812. 

I need not stop to observe fliat. in those old days, when rail- 
roads and auiomobiles were unknown, that it was a longer and 
more fatiguing march from Petersburg to Ohio, than it was from 
Ohio to Petersburg during, the Civil War. 



40 

A thrilling narrative of this march is to be found in the 
"Life Narrative" of the Reverend Alfred M. Lorrain, entitled 
"The Helm, the Sword and the Cross," who was one of the Volun- 
teers and afterwards a Methodist preacher of the Cincinnati Con- 
ference, a volume of which, I suppose the Maumee Valley Asso- 
ciation has among its archives. I have time for only this extract : 
"When the news of Hull's surrender reached the patriotic 
town of Petersburg in Virginia, it overwhelmed the whole popu- 
lation with indignation and sorrow. Some of the most popular 
young men, with martial music, and the American ensign, paraded 
the streets and with impassioned appeals called on their youthful 
associates to march to the rescue, the scene that followed was soul- 
thrilling to the patriot. Promising young men sprung their 
counters and fell into the ranks, students of medicine and law 
shoved aside their volumes, sufficiently uninteresting before, but 
now made absolutely irksome by the ceaseless din of war and rushed 
to the standard. The mechanic threw the uplifted hammer from 
his hand to swell the train. The placid farmer rode to town to 
behold the madness of the people, but took the epidemic and fell 
•in. And in a few days a company of one hundred and four, 
ricldy uniformed, offered themselves to the Government to serve 
twelve months under the banner of the brave Harrison, etc." 
Five of the Volunteers were killed, seventeen wounded and twelve 
died of disease contracted from exposure in the "Black Swamp." 
Blackford Cemetery Monument. 
A monument of fine marble and noble proportions stands in 
Old Blackford Cemetery, erected many years ago, by tlie people of 
Petersburg, in honor of these brave and patriotic men. 

It is surmounted by a bronze eagle with outspread wings, and 
bears liberal inscriptions, embracing the complete roster of the 
company, the complimentary (xcneral Order of General Harrison, 
at the expiration of their term of service, which T have read; and 
also this glowing tribute: 

"Behold, the generous Patriot band, 
Brave guardians of their native land. 
By no ignoble view inspired, 
By love of country only fired, 
Marched forth to combat, side by side; 
No mercenary thoughts excite 
For freedom and for fame they fight ; 
Virginia's flower, her ornament and pride." 
"In Memorv of 
CAPT. RICHARD McRAE, 



41 

liate Commandant of the Petersburg Canada Volunteers, in the 
war with Great Britain in the year 1812. A corps, who under the 
impulse of holv patriotism, in the hour of their country's need, 
leaped from their downy beds, and foregoing domestic comfort 
and ease, instantly organized and took up the line of march for 
the Canadian frontier, wliere under the supreme command of 
General Harrison, they met the disciplined armies of their coun- 
try's enemy on the 5th day of May, 1813, and after a bloody 
conflict dcfeat-ed them, giving peace to a hitherto distracted dis- 
trict, and won for their liome the exalted and imperishable 
Appellation of the 

Cockade City 
of The "N'ation." 
One thought in conclusion. This monument connnemorates 
a period in our country's history when the people of the sections 
were strongly bound together l)v the ties of friendship and sym- 
pathy; sharing each other's dangers, rejoicing in each other's 
triumphs and deploring each other's disasters. 

As a Southern soldier, who had the honor to ride by the side 
of Gen. Jno. B. Gordon, ns liis cliicf of staff, and who was of the 
remnant of Lee's amiy, whicli yielded to overwhelming numbers 
and resources at Appomatox. I am sui-c f represent my old com- 
rades, when T sincerelv exiMvss the boiic that the relations between 
the sections will become more and more cordial as the years roll 
on. Having fought for our convictions of right and dutv we are 
content to abide bv the iini);irtial verdict of History and to say 
with one of our Virginia po<'ts at the Yorktown celebration 
"Give us back the ties of Yorktown, 

Perish all the modern hates. 
Let us stand together, brothers, 

Tn defense of the Fates, 
For the safety of the Union 

Is the safety of the' States." 

HO^T. JOSFPH B. FOTJAKFT?. 

His Terse and Vigorous Address on Behalf of Ohio. 
The last speaker and orator of the day was the distinguished 
United States Senator, Joseph B. Foraker, representing Ohio. 
His strong, clear and vigorous words, noted for their terse and 
forcible expression, reached the most remote confines of the vast 
assemblage. Before beginninsr his address he poured the oil of 
consolation upon the friendh" rivalry of the two Confederate 
veterans by remarking that "I don't believe any one can claim 



42 

that Virginia did more than its own duty to one side at a time, 

while Kentucky can be proud of having furnished its full quota 
of men to both sides." 

Senator Foraker spoke as follows: 
Mr. Chairman and Fellow Citizens: 

It would be dii!icult to exaggerate the greatness of our country 
or the happiness of our ]iPopl(\ Onr territory belts the continent 
and invades the seas, (^ur population represents the blood of 
all the races, yet is the most homogeneous of any country in 
the world. Our resources are practically exhaustless and our 
industries are as countless and as varied as the tastes and wants 
and genius of man. Our civilization, intelligence and morals 
mark the highest standards ever attained. From ocean to ocean 
there is an endless succession of visible monuments to lofty 
achievements. The farms, the cities, the mines, the mills, the 
factories, the railroads, tlie churches and school houses com- 
l)ine to record the greatest march in human progress that ha? 
ever been made. The picture ^-e today present is so complete 
and perfect in all its features and jiroportions that it is hard to 
recall and realize the sufferings, linrdsliips, denials, labors, efforts, 
struggles, battles, patriotism, heroism, blood and death that are 
involved and represented. It is only by some such occasion as 
this ibal ihe past is again brought vividly before us and wo are 
remindetl of the trial? and trilnilatinns that Avent before our 
triumphs. 

Picture of the Past. 

To intelligently appreciate this spot and what we are seeking 
to commemorate we must blot out the beautiful picture of today 
and ))ainf annlhei'. We iiiiisi eliminate ihe railroads, the trolleys, 
llie iclcplKJiic, 11i(^ telegra|)h, and sbut nut of view entirely all 
kinds of clfclrieal and steam motive ])ower on both land and 
water. We must wipe off the canvas all our beautiful farms 
witb (heir fields of waving grain and grassy meadows. We 
must blot out the turnpikes and public highways. We must 
stop the busy hum of industry in all its forms. We must sub- 
stitute; for all this scene of beauty, cultivation, improvement 
and human endeavor and aetivily. well nigh impenetrable forests 
and practically impassable swamps. Instead of cattle on a thou- 
sand hills and domestic animals that render us service and are 
agreeable companions, we must fill the Avoods with savage beasts 
and savage men, with only a few white settlements scattered 
liere and there in small, newly nuule clearings, the very out- 
jiosts of civilization, willi only foot and wagon trails incom- 



44 

pletely connecting them. Behind this frontier was an encroach- 
ing ])opulation, that in slowly widening and advancing growth 
had been gradually figlitiiig its way from the river to the in- 
terior, but which had scarcely made its appearance nearer this 
])oint than Columbns. 

'i'hey were hardy, l)ra\c and self-reliant, but sparse, poor and 
unable to spare to the army from their scanty stocks of pro- 
xisions and supplies. 

It was to sueb a sjiot, so silualiMl and surrounded, and to the 
defense of sueli a i)e()])Ie, that GentTal Harrison came in 1813. 
Today it is an agreeable I'ide of l)ul a few hours from this point 
lo the most, far distant homes of tliose who accompanied him, 
hut then those homes could be reached oidy by weeks of weari- 
>(»nie .travel. JTis soldier hoys were farther from their loved 
ones than are our soldier boys of today on duty in the Philip- 
pines. 

Othei's have deserihed the hitter eohl that was encountered, 
and the niinierons hai'dships and deprivations thai thev endured, 
and in thrilling sentences their brave and heroic defense of 
this phice has been told ovei- and o\ci' again. All ibis is familiar 
l.islory and iiee<l not be repeated here today. Suffice it to say 
!hai llu^ gallant sous of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and 
Ohio, who composed that little army, were worthy of the great 
trust committed to them. 'Pogetbei' they stood and fought, and 
together many of them died: and here for almost- a century they 
liaxc slept side by side in the rnde trt'nches to which their com- 
r:i(|es tenderly consigned them. 

.\lmosl, a hundred years have passed and we come now to 
honor tbein. Our respective states have sent us to join in the 
iiiiM'iling and diMlicalioii of this beautiful monument. 
Other Battle Fields. 

We a)'e here not ahuie because a battle was fought here, and 
because men died here bravely fighting under our country's 
flag. Ther(^ are hundreds of baftle-fields that are unmarked, and 
perhaps always will remain unmarked; we are here because to 
this particular s])ot attaches a special historic interest. 

Plymouth Rock and Jamestown excite a special interest be- 
cause they were the beginnings of two conflicting ideas, from 
which started the conflicting contentions of free and slave in- 
stitutions. 

Quebec is of special interest to every student of history, be- 
cause there, on the plains of Abraham, in the death grapple of 



45 

Montcalm and Wolfe, it was decided that on this continent there 
.-hould be not French but British domination. 

Valley Forge and Yorktown are especially dear to every 
American heart, because they respectively mark the lowest ebb 
and the final triumph of the Eevolution. 

There were a thousand fields made bloody during our late 
Civil War, but Antietam, that moved Abraham Lincoln to pro- 
claim emancipation, and Gettysburg, where was reached the high- 
water mai-k of that struggle, and Appomatox, where was achieved 
the final victory of the Union arms, will forever have a historic 
interest far beyond that which attaches to Shiloh, Vicksburg, 
Chicamauga, Mission Kidgi', Atlanta, the Wilderness, or any of 
the other noted fields of that heroic strife. 

The spots that arrest the attention and hold fixed places in 
the minds of men are those which are identified with great turn- 
ing points in national destinies and human affairs. 
Fort ^leigs of Special Importance. 
Fort Meigs has a special importance of this character, beyond 
that wliich attaches to Fort Kecovery, or Fort Defiance, or Fort 
Wayne, or any of the neigh lioring fortifications of that pioneer 
time, because it was the base of operations in a campaign of 
national impoi'tance, planned for the recapture of Detroit and 
the invasion of Canada. The battle fought here was no greater, 
and, measured by conditions and circumstances then existing, no 
ninre ^^•()rthy of special commemoration than that which was 
fought in this vit-inity, at Fallen Tindjers, by General Wayne; 
l.ut Wa\neV battle had reference, and was confined in its effects 
and intiuences, to our ri-lations with the Indian Tribes. The 
i^ivat blessing of peace and protection to the frontiersmen of 
that day was the result of his victory, but its effect and bene- 
fits were local, while the siu-cessful resistance to the siege of 
Fort j\feigs was national and even international. It was a de- 
cisive event in a war between two nations; a war that affected 
our national life and greatly concerned the whole world. It 
inspired General Harrison and his army with confidence at a 
critical time and prepared tlu'ui for the successful campaign that 
followed, in which the disgrace of Hull's surrender was effaced, 
Canada was invaded, the battle of the Thames wlas fought, 
1\'cumseh fell, and the tide thai had been against us was turned 
in our favor and led us on to an honorable peace with Great 
Britain that has continued nnbroken for almost a century, and 
vhieh now promises to continue for centuries to come. 

It is well to mark such spots. They are the mile stones of 



46 

human history. The noble dead merit the tribute involved, but 
the good that is wrought is for the living. All who look upon 
such memorials must be stimulated to a deeper study of our in- 
stitutions, their origin, their character, their singular adapta- 
tion to our wants and aspirations, to the treasure and blood we 
iiave expended to establish and maintain them, and to the mani- 
fold rich blessings they have brought us. In this way they will 
reach a clearer conception of the high duty resting upon us to 
perpetuate them unimpaired. 

The Country's Progress. 

When General Harrison fought here there v/ere but 18 states 
in our Union; now there are 46. Then we had less than 10 mil- 
lions of population; now we have 85 millions. Then we fronted 
on only the Atlantic; now we face both oceans. Then our in- 
dustries were few in number and restricted in character; now 
they are multiplied and expanded. Then we had only simple 
and primitive conditions; now the most highly developed and 
complicated known to modern civilization. The government our 
fathers had given us was then still regarded by all European 
countries as a mere experiment, fairly well adapted perhaps to 
the situation then existing, but unfit for any large expansion 
of territory or increase of popuhition, with increased and cout 
fiicting interests, and as doomed to failure and dissolution when- 
ever put to any serious test. Many Americans were equally in- 
credulous. 

Each acquisition of territory that we have made excited ser- 
ious apprehensions that found expression in the debates in Con- 
gress and elsewhere as to whether our institutions would stand the 
strain. It was gravely and seriously contended by some of the 
ablest statesmen of that time and later, that we should not at- 
tempt to advance our territorial boundary beyond the crest of 
the Rocky Mountains; that that was the natural terminus for 
us on the west, and that we were defying fate and inviting dis- 
memberment and disaster to disregard what God had so plainly 
indicated. 

Apparently there are still among us some doubting Thomases, 
for there was especial apprehension when the Spanish War 
acquisitions were made, but it has been found in every instance 
that our Constitution fits its requirements as perfectly as though 
ii had been made with special reference thereto. 

But greater than the expanse of our domain, greater than the 
multiplication of our wealth, greater than any power that has 
come to us, greater than any glory we have achieved, greater than 



:47 

any of our physical accomplishments, has been the improvement 
of our people intellectually, morally, and in all that makes for 
good citizenship. 

America's Influence. 

There never was a time when they stood in less need of 
statutory strait- jackets, or when they less deserved to be dis- 
credited in their own estimation and before the world by otficial 
censure and public criticism. 

There never was a time when our high degree of success was 
so universally recognized. All the nations are striving to follow 
our example. All this hemisphere and nearly all the peoples 
of the earth are now living under written constitutions, modeled 
after ours. Not only Eussia and Turkey, but now finally Persia 
has also demanded an organic law in which the powers of govern- 
ment and the rights of the people shall be clearly defined; and 
the Shah must yield, as the Sultan has yielded, or his throne 
will totter to its fall. The day for absolute monarchies and all 
kinds of autocratic governments has forever passed. Soon, every- 
where, and for all time, it will be established that the people 
have capacity and a right to govern themselves. 

It is not alone our material advancement, our imperial domain, 
our loyal, patriotic citizens, our untold and incalculable wealth, 
our gallant army or our battleships, that has brought about this 
changing of the forms of their governments by other peoples, 
but rather the peace, the freedom, the contentment and the 
general happiness we enjoy, coupled with the intellectual and 
moral advancement we have made. 

A government under which a people can accomplish such 
\(.nderful success at home and exert such influences abroad, can 
i;oi be too thoroughly studied or too carefully guarded. Practic- 
ally all the greatest publicists agree that the most vital feature 
of the general plan of our government is found in the distribu- 
tion of its powers among three separate, independent and co- 
ordinate departments. 

Distribution of Power. 
It is fundamental that neither shall encroach upon the other. 
The legislative shall not, without constitutional warrant, take 
from or add to the powers of the judiciary; nor shall the judici- 
aiy annul or embarrass the lawfully enacted will of the legisla- 
tive. Working in harmony as their official duties require the 
result is as near perfection as human imperfection will allow. 

We can only speculate as to the disappointing consequences 
that would ensue if they shoiild work at cross-purposes, for, to 



48 

the credit of these two departments, neither has ever willfully 
Infringed upon or denied the powers of the other. Through all 
the years that have passed they have been so true to the pur- 
})oses of their creation that they have carefully respected and 
jealously guarded, each, the rights of the other. 

But worse than legislative and judicial discord would be an 
iuAasion of either of the other departments by the executive. 

All the powers of that department are consolidated in a single 
in 'isidual. He is the l'ommandt'r-in-{_!liief of the Army and 
I lie Navy. lie lias in his own hands all the tremendous power 
of jmblic patronage. He not only has under his control and 
.-uljject to his will, so far as their tenure is concerned, thousands 
of othce holders, but he has even more immediately under his 
command a constantly increasing army of more, at the present 
tiine, than three thousand special agents, inspectors and secret 
service men, whose highest law is his bidding. 

Under a l)old, aggressive, unscrupulous and disigning Execu- 
tive this power of appointment and these armies of appointees 
(Oil Id be so exercised and directed as to destroy the independence 
and impair the usefulness and etliciency of both the other de- 
partments. 

Such an abuse of ])o\vei- would be a violation of the Consti- 
tution, which if h)ng ac(iuiesecd in might eventiudly work its 
overthrow. 

Such ])vactices are of such serious character that they are 
not likelv often to occur, but nevertheless we should be ever watch- 
lul to n'hukc them when I hey do occur, lest in them we find our 
undoing. Open ami axowed en<Mnies are not always the most 
dangei'ous. Too fi'e(|Uenllv suhlh' iuliueuci's undermine and 
tlnvtH't hnman endeavor befoi'c they ai'c recognized. This is 
|i;ii'ticularly true in governmental experience. 

.\ll tiie teachings of history proclaim that there is no safety 
except wlu're there is eternal vigilance, if there should come 
necessity for changes in our organic law let us make them in ac- 
cordance" with its ])rovisions, having the requisite patience and 
]ialiiotism therefor, and ever . remembering and believing that 
what Washington and his associates framed, and Lincoln and 
his associates, with the help of that grand old Union army, per- 
fecttMl, is good eiu)ugh for you and me and for all who are com- 
ing after us. 

CLOSE OF TIIE EXERCISES. 

The commemorative exercises were closed with the singing 
of "Star Spangled Banner" by the Watervillo Chorus Choir, and 



4^ 

the benediction pronounced by Rev. R. _ D. Hollington, of St. 
Paul's M. E. church of Toh^do, as follows: 

BENEDICTION. 

"And now may the God, who inspired these men of old to 
(Uh^hIs of daring upon this hallowed spot, inspire our hearts to 
...•eds of daring to preserve their heritage to us forever untarnish 
c'd, Amen." 



CAPT. CUSHING»S DIARY 



He Built and Commanded the Grand Battery at 
tlie Sieges ol Fort Meigs, 1813. 



j\li-. Daniel H. Cushiiig of Springtield, Ohio, grandson of Cap- 
tain Daniel Lewis Gushing, kindly furnishes a copy of the diary 
kept by his grandfather, with the following additional informa- 
tion and comments on the life and decease of Captain Daniel 
Lewis Cusliing: 

Daniel Lewis Cushing was a descendant of Matthew Cushing, 
who came from England in the year 1G38, and settled in Hingham, 
^Massachusetts. 

He was born October 22, IT 64. in 1801 he went to iSTew 
York, where he spent several years as a merchant. Subsequently 
he took up a tract of land near Sackett's Harbor and platted a 
town to which he gave the name of Huron. 

Li 1807 he removed to Lebanon, Warren county, Oh id, where 
he became prominent. May 25, 1811, he was commissioned 
Brigadier General of Ohio Militia. July 2, 1812, he was com- 
missioned Captain in the Second U. S. Artillery. He served with 
(lislinetion in the war with England. 

He built and commanded the "(irand Ijatleiy" in Fort Meigs, 
consisting of four eighteen pounder guns. While traveling across 
the country on horseback on some duty that was taking him l)ack 
In l^'ort Meigs, in attempting to ford the Auglaize river he 
was drowned, March 24, 1815. His body was recovered by his 
traveling companion, aided by some Lidiajis and by them buried. 
Some time later some of his fellow citizens of Lebanon attempted 
tn return the body of Captain Cushing to his home by way of 
the river, but the water being very high and the current very 
strong they were compelled to desist, and floated back to Fort 
T)<'IIance, where they buried him in wliat is now an unknown 
ffravc. Peace to his ashes. 

His diary of the campaign to and in Fort Meigs, showing 
daily transactions, so very interesting to us, establishes the 
fact, that he was an extraordinary man and well qualified to accora- 
})lish the very arduous duty offered to him. The newspaper of his 
honu? city of those days paid him fiiic tribute as a citizen. 

He was twice married, his second wife being a daughter of 



52 

Rev. William Van Horn, of Scotch Plains, N. J,, who had been 
a chaplain in the Continental Army. 

The Diary. 

The following diary describing the struggles of the march 
through Ohio and during the two sieges of Fort Meigs, will be 
found most interesting, as it gives the daily routine, and striking 
incidents of army life in that memorable year. This is the first 
time the Diary has ever been published. 

October 10, 1812. — I, Daniel Cushing, Capt of Artillery, 3nd 
Regt. marched from Lebanon — camped that night nine miles 
from that place — marched the lltli to Dayton — camped there 
until the 13th — marched from there to lower Piqua — camped 
there until the 25th. 

We then marched to Urbana — arrived there the 27th, camped 
there until the 29th — marched from that place to Franklinton, 
arrived there 31st, camped near the church, stayed there three 
days, moved up the river a short distance, camped there until the 
flood drove us off. On the 8th of JN^ovember, moved near the 
lown on high land and camped there. Nothing new from day to 
day imtil the 24th. 

At Franklinton. 

The 25th one man died; hiiiied iiiiii witli tlio linnors of war. 
On that day Col. Campbell left here with a detachm/cnt of 750 
men, 600 cavalry, 150 light infantry, for an expedition on the 
Wabash, to pass through Dayton. Oii the 26th the command 
devolved on me at this place, some artilhu'y, some dragoons, some 
infantry. ^Pbis day commenced with siiow, but concluded with 
rain. 

27tli. — By the general oi'ders moved tlie sick from the hos- 
pital tent into the court house. This day is windy but clear. 
Frederick Swaney went to the liospital this (hiy from my company 
sick. Three men put into tlu' river for getting drunk and fight- 
ing ill tlicir tents, took a halliiiig and returned to duty. 

28tli. — Lieut. Meek retui'ned from visit to Cincinnati — 
fetclied letters from Mrs. Cusliing and (*apt. Ross, also from 
Major Van Horn. 

Monday, 30th. — This day made arrangements with Mr. Sul- 
livan for timber to build artilici r yard, called out five men for 
chopping wood and arranged teams to haul timber for the yard 
tomorrow. Put two men in the river for getting drunk. 

December 8. — From the 1st to this day we have been engaged 
in fixing the building for the artificers and putting down mill 
dams, and sending a boat up tlie Scioto, and repairing a flat to cross 



the river with public stores. General Harrison left this camp for 
the upper Sandusky on the 9th with all his suite, and gave me full 
command of all the troops at this place. All things went on well 
until the 2r)tli, Christmas day, when the devil got into the sol- 
diers. From the 8th to the 35th we were steadily employed in 
building artificer shops ajid chopping wood and making coke. 

27th. — This day we are making out pay rolls; shall receive 
our pay the 28th. 

SOth. — General Harrison arrived here from Upper Sandusky. 
'M)ih he went on to Chillicothe. 

On to Upper Sandusky. 

January 1, 1813. — I left Franklinton with my company for 
IT|)])er Sandusky by the way of Worthington and Delaware — 
inarched with 34 non-commissioned officers and privatx^^s, myself 
and three lieutenants. It commenced raining early in the morn- 
ing — contitiucd all day. We moved ofT tlie old camp gi-ound at 12 
(>'(-b)ck. marched four miles, our two w.agons, one ammunition, the 
other V)aggage; both got stuck in the mud and could not move any 
faftlici- that night. Eained very hard, l)ecaiiie very dark, no tent 
pitched, no fire, nothing to make fire willi. liemmed in with a very 
steep hill on one side and a very wet and muddy bottom on the 
other. T sent all the officers and men to two houses in the neigh- 
hoi-hood, except two wagoners, my black boy Ferguson, and four 
sohliei-s that stayed with me. Tt contiiuu'd raining until al)Out 
two o'clock that night, then began to snow very fast. We made 
us a floor with rails from a fence, also burned rails for fire wood. 
Tn the morning the snow was alxnit four inches (l('c|» and very 
cold; still snowing; got something to eat. called all hands, pried 
up the wagons, doubled the teams and with much difficulty got 
one- fourth of a mile that day. 

2ik1.— Stayed all night at Mr. F.cars; the men all stayed in 
the house and barn; Lieut. Larwill and myself slept in the markee. 
TTnloaded a part of our loading, stalled for Worthington and 
arrived there about dark. 

3cl._0btained the acadt'uiy for the men. Myself and the 
rest of the officers ].ut up at (V)l. Killxinrs. Gontinued snowing 
until some time in the night of the 3nl. fMcared off very pleas- 
ant this morning. 

The 4th I made a contract willi Mi', (iriswold to furnish the 
soldiers with provisions while wailing heiv. Left at Franklinton 
Corporal Finley sick, Nicholas Teal. Fivderi.k Swaney, David 

Hart lame. 1 left with iIh' g Is live miles from Worthington, 

Sergeant Morgan and live men. S, nt hack to Franklinbui for a 



54 

wagon and team to help us on to Worthington, which was fur- 
nished by Mr. Craig, Wagon Master General. The sergeant with 
the wagon and the goods arrived here on the 4th late in the even- 
ing but all safe. The soldiers were indulged this day, having 
been very much fatigued the last three days. They took great 
liberties, visited the towns, got drunk, quarreled and fought. 
Two or three got whipped and complaint came to me at my 
quarters, 

I immediately visited them, quashed the quarrel and left 
them for the night. The next morning, the 5th, issued an order 
that no soldier should leave the barracks without leave of the 
officer of the day, and if any soldier became drunk on duty he 
should be punished without reserve; and if any non-commissioned 
officer was found drunk he should be reduced to the ranks. My- 
self and lieutenant moved this day from Col. Kilbum's to the 
Academy. All things are well this evening, the snow about fif- 
teen inches deep. 

6th. — The "Virginia troops commanded by Capt. McCrea 
came into town this evening and pnt up at the taverns. David 
Hart came to camp this evening from Franklinton; he was left 
lame there when we marched. 

7th. — The weather very cold and windy. My men hauling 
wood. Lieut. Meek not well. We had the pleasure of Mr. Robe's 
company last evening, a man of very small stature, weight onlv 70 
pounds and 30 years of age, and one of the teachers of this acad- 
emy. 

8th. — The Virginia troops left this place. T went to Frank- 
linton in order to get sleds to take our ammunition and baggage, 
but find that the sleds will not answer. Retnrned back to this 
place tonight; find all things well. Cenernl Harrison came with 
me and all his suite, bound for TTppcr Sandusky. 

11th. — Marched for Fpper Snndiisky: marched one and a 
half miles past Delaware, camped wiflimii pilchiiig tents, drew 
rations and forage to last to Fpper Snnduskv. 

12th. — Marched to "NTorfon and camped there. 

14th. — Arrived at Upper Sandnskv about sunset; the men 
took shelter with the Pennsylvania troo])s for the night. On the 
15th we took our stations in the center and camped. 

17th. — General Harrison left here for the Eapids. 

18th. — Received notice that we must march on ihc 20th for 
the Rapids. ^^"^ 

19th. — Making preparations, and received notice that six 



55 

companies were to march with us besides the Petersburg volun- 
teers. 

20th. — Waiting all day for the ordnance to got ready. At 3 
o'clock received information that we could not march that day, 
but would march next morning at 8 o'clock without fail. 

Thursday, 21st. — At 10 o'clock the whole detachment parad- 
ed near the magazine, my company taking the right. The word 
march was sounded from right to left and all stepped oflF. We 
marched that day nine miles and halted for the night on a small 
branch of a creek. Major Eobert Orr commanded the detach- 
ment from the Pennsylvania lines. All very well situated on a 
little stream of very good water. 

Scene of Crawford's Torture. 

22nd. — This morning fine weather, cl-^ar and pleasant. Left 
the Sandusky plains last evening, crossed small prairie nnd loft 
that in our rear. One thing T have omitted in our march voster- 
day — that is. crossing the ground where Pol. Crawford had the bat- 
tle with the Indians and was defeated, lost a large part of his 
men, fled before the Indians, was pursued, overtaken, himself^ 
taken prisoner, brought back and massacred. The place of his ex- 
ecution we passed by this morning on a small rise of gronnd, just 
before we entered a very large prairie, leaving an old Indian town 
on our right hand. The place, said to be the place of Crawford's 
execution, bad four posts set up about ten feet high, two sticks of 
timber crossing at angles from one post to the other on the top. 
In the center where those sticks crossed there was another post 
that extended from the ground up through them with places to 
confine the hands and feet. We took a view of this and marched 
on through the prairie, where we saw several Indian horses and 
passed on through a large flat piece oP land rather low. Soon 
came to creek, passed that on the ice. approached another ]»rairie. 
traveled on through that and approached a fine country of good 
land with very fine timber for three or four miles, then began the 
barrens. Marched this- day eight miles with a great deal of difficul- 
ty — sleds broke, hames broke, chains broke. Crossed the upper end 
of a large prairie, myself in front, the Major and Quarter Master 
in the rear. Night coming on I called a halt, laid out the ground 
to camp on and fixed our tents. The Petersburg volunteers were 
late coming np as they fetched up the rear. 

News From Hiver Eaisin. 

Saturday, 23rd.— This morning the Major was desirous that 
I should give the right to Capt. McCrea's company. I refused; 
took the line of march, marched on about one mile and met a 



56 

M'hite man and one Indian who had a letter from General Harri- 
son to the Major, informing him of the first battle that General 
Winchester had with the Indians and British, and ordering him 
to send on two twelve pounders and three sixes with all possible 
speed to the Rapids. This letter was dated the 22nd. Major Orr 
opened the letter and read it. His orders were to have me pro- 
ceed with my company with the cannon. 

We held a council, and concluded it was useless to alter our 
line of march, as we had no cartridges with us for the guns. 
Marched on three or four miles ; met another express with another 
letter of the same date, commanding the Major to march on with 
all possible speed to the Rapids with all the troops that he had 
with him, except one company to be left with the baggage and the 
artillery, the express stating at the same time that Gen. Win- 
chester had another battle, was defeated, was killed himself, lost 
almost all his men, killed and taken, and that General Harrison 
expected to be attacked in his camp at the Rapids every hour. 
This battle was fought at the River Raisin. We camped early this 
evening in consequence of that, in order to make preparations to 
march early in the morning. A council was called of the officers 
at dark and all agreed to march at two o'clock. 

This evening came on to our camping ground four hundred 
and fifty pack horses laden with flour and salt for the Rapids. 
This night came on a very heavy rain. At 2 o'clock all the men 
out, but not ready to march; the pack horses took the front: it was 
agreed that we should take with us one six jioundci- that was 
monnted. and 3G rounds of fixed am.munition. At 4 o'clock I 
was ordered to march where the road was filled with pack horses, 
so that the men could not pass them any oilier way but to take the 
Avoods. The rain, had softened the snow and mud to that rate 
(hat the pack horses made the road a complete bed of mortar 
about one foot deep. I found it impossible for the men to march 
in that way. The intent of this day's march was to reach the 
Rfl.pids to relieve General Harrison. To man-li in the rear of all 
those pack horses I found we should not get half way this day, 
therefore T led off through the woods with my company and 
passed all the horses in about four miles. Capt. Dunn, with a 
part of his company, followed me at daylight. We were about 
six miles from camp and passed Capt. Vance before day five miles 
from camp with his train of hogs about four thousand in number. 
At 8 o'clock in the morning we fetdicil into Hull's old ti'ack over 
the road tliat. he traveled to the iJapids last suniini'i-. Marclioil 
on to a small creek by the name of Carrying Creek; called a halt 



57 

to take some little refreshment. While we were there a man 
arrived from General Harrison who informed us that he had re- 
treated from the Eapids seventeen miles on this side of the same 
Creek that we were on, hut nine miles below where we were. We 
refreshed and moved on through the worst piece of road I ever 
traveled, up to our knees in mud and water almost every step. I 
arrived at headquarters aliout 4 o'clock this afternoon. 
Troubles of the March. 

Sunday, 24th. — From this time until dark the troo]is keep 
coming into camp, but not more than one-half arrived this day. 
The Virginia volunteers and the Pennsylvania militia were order- 
ed to encamp out of the lines about forty rods up the Creek, noth- 
ing to shelter them but the heavens and some scattoi-ing trees. 
Thev have neither tents nor camping ecpiipage of any sort, it being 
Jill left behind with the ordnance and the traveling becoming so 
very bad it could not possibly come on. My company was ordered 
on the right of the whole army but in no better fix than the above 
troop, but they were invited into tents with the iroops that lay 
there. Myself and lieutenants were very politely invited by 
l\rajor Harden and Doctor Logan, to take part of their fare as 
lodging and victualing. This night it began to snow. 

2r)th. — T called on General Harrison. He ordered, mv back 
fo tlie baggage in order to fetch it on as soon as possibh'. I ap- 
plied to the Quartermaster for a horse lo ride, obtained one, left 
camp about ton o'clock, the road worse than the day before, as the 
waters had risen in every little creek to a great height. When I 
arrived at the crossing of Carrying Creek, T found about twenty 
pack-horse men with all their horses: <-ould not cross, as thev 
thoiiglit these horses had been on by tlie army and left them load- 
ing. T met on the road from camp to tliis phice about our liun- 
dred men that had not yet got to camp: among tlie number was 
Capt. McCrea, two of his subalterns and about fifty of bis men; 
this was about four miles from camp. I asked tliose jiack-borsc 
men that were stopped above, whether they did not intend to cross; 
they said not. I told them if they woubl assist me T would fix a 
bridge from the shore to the ice in \hv bed of the river that we 
could all cross in safety. They woubl not belp, therefore T went 
at it myself, made a bridge and crossefl over safe. After \ had 
got over they were ready enough to follow me. We came on about 
tbree miles when night came on : we stopped and built up a fire. 
Just as we had got our fire in gnod order Col. Wells and Mr. 
Orderm came up from tlie army .-n llieir way. They stopped 
witb us all night. I was witbout blankets or provisions in con- 



58 

sequence of expecting to reach camp that night, or to meet the six 
pounder that was behind, wliere there were blankets and provis- 
ions, but in consequence of being detained at the river I could not 
fetch either. 

26th. — Col. Wells, Mr. Orderm and myself started about day- 
light and were informed of a very bad creek to cross in about two 
miles. When we arrived there I found the pack horses there that 
had our tents. They crossed on Sunday evening, but hearing 
that they could not cross Carrying Creek without difficulty they 
stayed there. I gave the Captain of tlic pack-horse company a 
severe scolding for staying there all that time when he knew that 
the men were without tents ; he promised me to start immediately. 
There was with him at that place about two hundred pack horses, 
that could not cross the creek. 

As they thought they were traveling iho same way that I was 
tlicy had been there two days. Col. Wells and myself thought the 
water looked very bad. It was forty rods to the bend of the creek, 
covered with water and felled timber and appeared to be very 
deep. The colonel thought that wc could ride np the creek a 
sliort distance and find some place to cross. We rode about four 
miles, were satisfied it would not do, returned back and found the 
pack horses where we had left them with the tents. They had 
concluded not to start until next morning. The colonel said to 
mo, "Captain, what shall we do?" I told him I would cross the 
river at all events. "Well, if you do T will also." I mounted my 
horse, plunged into the waicr. found it very deep, but got safe to 
iho creek and found a large tree fallen across the main stream. T 
dismounted, my horse, took off my pistols and holsters, took them 
in my hand, walked over on the log, had to wade from Ihe creek 
aboul twenty rods in water two feet deep, but got to shore. 
Found (liere Scigeant Mead and three soldiers with my six pound 
piece; got tbem to assist us (o fell trees fi'om that side to a creek, 
swam ovci- my liors(> saf(^ and Co!. Wells and Mr. Orderm's also. 
That bi'okr (lie way — the park horses followed, but -drowned one 
horse through carelessness. This evening, the 26th, I stayed here 
all night with the cannon and ammunition. 

January 27th. — Ate breakfast and started for our old camp, 
the road very bad. About 12 o'clock I arrived at Captain Vance's 
camp, who liad charge of four thousand hogs. Brought a letter 
lo him I'l-oin Ceneral Harrison, ordering him to return to Upper 
Santhisky with the hogs, lo li;i\e iheiii butchered there. I arrived 
at iaiii|) ahoiil 3 o'clock, luit found tlie camp moved aboiit one 
mile in advance and were just pitching their tents. Brought an 



59 

order to Captain Wadsworth from General Harrison to send all 
the teams and horses io Mr. Cruther's block house for forage, but 
knowing that the Auglaize Eiver was iiot passable in consequence 
of the high waters we concluded to change the course and send to 
Upper Sandusky. 

A Wordy War. 

28th. — This morning was occupied in fixing the teams and 
sleds with the horses for the purpose of going after forage. After 
the teams and horses had started I concluded to follow after in 
order to meet General Lcftrach, as he was on his march with his 
brigade somewhere between my camp and the river. T met him in 
about seven miles, did the business with him that T wanted and 
turned back again. They camped with two regiments within four 
miles of my camp, bnt Col. Connell marched to our old camp, one 
mile from our present camp, haltxHl about dark, struck np Rres 
and was very jovial, when Major Scott came up and asked for Col. 
Connell. 

The Colonel answered, "T am here." 

"Colonel, yon have used, us damned ill ; you have marched ns 
too late. You are no gentleman." "T am sir; you are not in 
earnest." 

"T am sir, yon are no soldier, no officer and no gentleman." 

"You lie sir, if you sav so." "You are a damned liar." said 
the Major, and makes at the Colonel, saying, "T can do as T 
please with you any way you please." 

"You cannot," says the Colonel, and draws his sword. 

The officers interfered and parted them. The Major left 
the company and went to his quarters. T stayed a few minutes 
and rode over to camp. At this place is a small creek, the name 
is not known ; T call it "Duck Creek" in consequence oP my get- 
ting ducked, in it the morning we marched from that camp. 

29th. — This morning is fine and clear. General Leftraeh 
with his brigade, passed our camp about 9 o'clock in the morning, 
men all in higb spirits. Our men are emploved this day in build- 
ing a block honse. Abont 2 o'clock the judge advocate went along 
on his wav to headquarters. T sent word bv him to General Left- 
raeh to take along with him the six pounder that lav at the creek 
called Trouble, about twelve miles from this place. About sunset 
the captain of the pack horses arrived here with a note to General 
LePtrach from General Harrison to leave with us at this place 
what men he thonght necessarv to facilitate the movements of the 
artilleiT from this place. The note met General Tjeft.rach. He 
wrote to me on the same, wishing me to send immediately to his 



60 

camp for what men I wanted. I sent immediately back, request- 
ing him to send me fifty or sixty men with their oflficers, and all 
the axes and shovels that they could possibly spare. Nicholas 
Teal arrived here from tlio hos]ntal in Franklinton, one of my 
('om|)any left behind sick. 

This place is in no wise a fit place for defense or deposit for 
two reasons — one in particular is for want of water, we have no 
water here but what stands in puddles or what the Yankees call 
"slows." Tlie other is the situation of the ground — it is a very 
flat country for a considerable distance around. No commanding 
spot. Our blockliouse is on a very flat piece of ground, we are at 
this time al)ouf fifty miles in our enemy's country in a complete 
wilderness witliout proper means for defense. We have with us 
a very valual)le property — four eighteen pounders, four twelve, 
ihroo six. nil on sleds, and a large quantity of ammunition and 
pid)lic stores. 1 don't state this circnmstance as a censure on 
anyone. Our being in this situation is in consequence of the late 
soft weather which has broken up the roads so that we could not 
possibly travel with our effects. The weather appears to be at 
tills (inic fiivorable. has frozen very hard for three days and 
nights, and still freezing. If our teams rt-turn from Upper San- 
dusky we shall leave here on the first of February. 

January 30th. — Froze hard last night, fine weather this 
miorning. Oui- men still at work on the blockhouse; mounted 
one six pounder on a platform of logs: in case of an attack can 
move it with band-spikes from right to left. The men arrived 
from Gen. Leftrach this afternoon about sixty in number. This 
evening regulating our guard lines around the camp making pre- 
parations for defense. Late this evening Lieutenant Tisdell of 
the Petersbui-g voluritcvrs, arrived here from headquarters and 
brings the pleasant news of tb(> f;iti^ of our army that was with 
Gen. Winchester at the Eiver TJaisin. T say pleasant fate for this 
reason — the first report came from headquarters was that Gen. 
Winchester b;nl fallen and seven buiuli-ed of our linive men out of 
oiK- thousand were killed and taken — but to the reverse of that, 
(uie man that was taken broke from them and arrived at TiOwer 
Sandusky, and states for a fact that Gen. Winchester was not 
killed, but taken and six hundred men with him. Mr. McCul- 
loucb. an express from Gen. Harrison, on bis way to Franklinton, 
brings the same intelligence, and as a fact, also states that Gen. 
Harrison will move his army from Carr}dng Creek to the Rapids 
this day or tomorrow. 

31st. — This morning snowing, not very cold, nor yet very 



61 

warm; sent a lieutenant and ensign witli a part}- of men to open 
the road wider from this to Hull's ohl road. The ox teams started 
from here to fetch forage from Sandusky returned back this morn- 
ing, being ordered back by Capt. Wadsworth, as he found they 
could not go to that place and back in time for tlie horse teams 
and would detain us in our movements three days at least. At 
sundown all our pack horses and horse teams arrived from Upper 
Sandusky with flour and forage. Gi'U. Leftrach and baggage 
went past here on pack horses this day, and Gen. Harrison's on 
pack horses and sleds. 

On to the Kapids. 

February 1st. — This morning preparing our artillery and 
baggage for marching to headquarters at foot of the Rapids. We 
marched precisely at 12 o'clock with 11 pieces of artillery, the 
heavy pieces on sleds, the six pounder on wheels. We have 33 
teams in this detachment, most all sleds. 1 took the line of 
march, passed on about six miles, when one of the pintels of the 
six pounder broke. 1 stopped to place it in a situation to move 
on, which flung me some ways behind the carriage. The front 
guard and pioneers kept on four miles; 1 pursued after them, 
came up with them, called a halt, waited until some of the sleds 
came up, and ventured down a very sttHip hill; one sled knocked 
to pieces in the attempt. 1 waited some time for the teams to 
appear; they did not; 1 got on to one of the wagon-master's 
horses and rode back, met several of the teams, continued on four 
miles back to the place where 1 left them or near that; found my 
baggage wagon, one caisson and one sk;d stuck fast in the mud. 
•This being after dark and a number of men and wagons present, 
I ordered a fire built as quick as possible Ihal tlie men might dry 
themselves and cook something to eat. Lieul. Tisdell of the 
Petersburg volunteers was at this phu^e; we got some bread and 
meat to eat, lay down on the snow, no U^nts pilch<M| this night; 
all slept well, the howling of wolves very great. 

Tuesday, 2nd. — Kost^^ early and mustered all hands; llie 
wagons froze into the mud very much; cut tliein loose witli axes, 
pried them out of the mud, ate l)reakrast and moved on, but with 
great difficulty; wagons sticking in the mud; sleds getting fast in 
the stumps in Hull's road; overtook the detachment at Trouble 
Creek, they not marching but one mile this day. 

Wednesday, 3rd. — This m()rnin,<( made an early start; crossed 
the creek Trouble on a very sidlin.u' ln'id.yv made by my men and 
some others while they lay there uilli the six pounder gun. 
Marched on very well this day, crossed Carrying Creek late in the 



62 

afternoon on the ice, but made a safe crossing ; marched two miles, 
camped a little before sunset on a very good spot for that purpose. 

Thursday, 4th.- — This niprning marched about -i o'clock; 
marched three miles to a black swamp; found the water about 8 
inches deep on ilie ice for one mile, the men loth to venture on, 
the pioneers did not like to wade. 1 told them to hand me an 
axe and I would be the first man in the water and chop the first 
tree. This moved some of them, four or five followed me, we 
cleared the road, the teams canii' on, several got almost over when 
tJie heavy artillery began to break through the ice both in front 
and in rear; wagons and sleds of every description shared the 
same fate, the water, mud and ice being from two to four feet 
deep. From the time 1 first entered the swamp until sundown 1 
did not leave the water, but was from knee deep to waist deep all 
day wading in mud, water and ice, prying out sleds and wagons, 
but got to Portage camp about dark with all our sleds and all our 
wagons but thive. No time to pitch tents; sleep out doors this 
night, 

Friday, 5tli. — This moi'iiiiig marched from this place, crossed 
Portage Creek safe, marched eight miles and eam})ed on the saiiK^ 
ground that Gen. Harrison eneam])ed on the night he left the 
camp at Portage. 

The liapids lieached. 

Saturday, Gth. — This morning made an early start; arrived 
at the head of the Rapids about l"i o'cloik, fuimd it very dilUeult 
ascending the hills to get on the iee, hut accomplished it in about 
one hour with all our elfects; found the ice souiid so that we 
arrived at the foot of the Rapids and al headquartei's about -1 
ox-lock. All our ordnance and ammunition in good order. My 
company is quartered near 1 he park on a very dry spot of ground. 

Sunthiy, '^Ih. — This day nolhing new; troo])s are employed in 
building blockhouses and the fiu'liliealions and sloekading the 
(;amp. Lieut. Meek, my second lieuleuanl, has the superintend- 
ing of one small redoubt for ihe purpose of planting one six 
pounder. 

Monday, 8 tb. — This day employed in mounting one eighteen 
pounder and/ three twelve pounders. This evening we fired the 
eighteen pounder for the evening gun, with a ball at an old house 
across the river on an elevated spot, 857 yards — fired a point blank 
shot; owing to the bad state the cannon was in and not having a 
full charge of powder for that distiince, the ball fell short, striking 
the side of the hill, bounded, pitched into the house and stopped. 
Lieut. Larwill crossed the river and found the ball in the house. 



63 

This day Col. Sutton was arrested by Gen. Tapper on a complaint 
made by Major Galloway. 

Tuesday, 9th. — Our spies that visit t-d up and down this river 
to find out the situation of the Indians and British broug'ht intel- 
ligence that they and some i^'rencli p.'oplc had discovered a party 
of Indians on each side of the rivor; the number they could not 
ascertain but thought there were about :-iJi). The Frencli came 
into camp with the spies and reported accoi'dingly. Gen. Harri- 
son this evening started otf anothiT company of spies with the 
sanu' Frenclimen in order to ascertain ii' tlic statement was true. 

Wednesda}-, lUth. — This morning tlic spies ri'tunicd antl 
stated they saw the Indians abo\c jufiiiioniMl and tlicy wrw in a 
War dance. The General orchax'd the <-ommanding olhcer of each 
Brigade to liave a certain proportion of their men to be in ruadi- 
lU'SS to tlie number of GUI) in all, to niaich at retreat beating this 
evening, and 5(J0 more to march in a short time after as a reserve, 
if they should be wanted. They descended the river to the phice; 
arrived there about 4 o'clock in the morning, but to their great 
disappointment the Indians had h ft their camps and driven off a 
number of cattle I'he Gcn^'ral lallcd a halt, examiiird thrii' 
camps and the neighborhood, discovci'cd ihc r(nite they lonk, 
followed after them about 7 or 8 miles, but round they could not 
conu- up with tht'in. I am mistaken in the day that the; spies and 
the Frriich came in with the news of the Indians being at the 
Miami Bay. It was on Monday, and (U) 'I'uesday evening our 
li'oops nuirched down to rout them, and on Wednesday about 4 
o'clock they returned. They niaiclied the distance of 50 miles in 
about 21 hours. 

Thursday, llth. — Gen. Crook came into camp this day with 
ahoul ."iUO niiMi of the Tennsylvania line li'din (Ipper Sandusky. 
IJeul. Lai'will very sick last night, hnl hetlei' this nu)rning. 

I'riday, \'Hh. — This day laying (Uil the encampmeni in a 
snndler com})ass. Col. Sutton ai'rcsled hy (len. Tupper on a coui- 
plaint laid in by Major Galloway. 

Saturday, 13th.— This day jjieui. Meek is appointed iVdjutant 
pro tem of the artillery. The militia of this state are decamping 
by companies of 2, 3, 4 and G, as their times expire. 
Sending Out Spies. 

Sunday, 14th. — This day Gen. HaiTison sent off two com- 
panies of spies — Capt. Woods and llinkslon with a number of In- 
dians — to reconnoitre this river as low down as the bay and to 
fetch in prisoners if possible. They have with them about sixty- 
five men and thirty Indians. 



64 

Monday, 15th. — This day the Kentucky militia cleared out 
for home as their times are out — Major Gano's battalion and 
Major Hardin's. A new order this day to build a battery on the 
front of the hill sixty or eighty feet long to plant our eighteen 
pounders. 

Tuesday, IGtli. — We mounted three eighteen pound cannon 
this day- — placed one twelve pound cannon in the lower blockhouse, 
(len. Harrison gave notice this evening that he expected to be 
attacked every night, ordered the artillery to have everything in 
preparation for the battle. 1 saw tliat all the twelves and sixes 
were supplied with ammunition. Four men were taken, two last 
night, two this evening, supposed to be British spies. They were 
about our camp, taken by the sentinels. 

Wednesday, 17th. — This day very cold — Major Ball arrived 
here this evening with his squadron oi cavalry from Lebanon. 

Thursday, 18th. — This morning Major Ball with his squad- 
ron moved from this place, ordered to Lower Sandusky. Made a 
short stay of one night. Col. Campbell arrived here this day with 
his regiment, Capt. Butler's and Alexander's voltigeurs. We have 
at this time four eighteen pounders, four iron twelve pounders, 
one brass twelve and four sixes, mounted fit for battle. 

Friday, IDth. — Teams arriving constantly with ammunition 
and clothing. 

Saturday, 20th. — This day two howitzers arrived here mount- 
ed and plenty of bomb shells. 

Sundays 21st. — Some snow fell last night. The troops are 
very busy building block houses, store houst's and stockiiding. 
Two hundred and fifty men sent down the river to escort some 
teams from Lower Sandusky. 

Monday, 22nd. — This day very (•••Id. all things going on very 
well; some more men sent to recn force llic escort, expecting l,o see 
some Indians. 

Tuesday, 2ord.^ — This nioriiing Col. I*nge's regiment of Ken- 
tucky militia cam]) left for home, their times having expired, and 
Col. Jenning's also. The spies and eseort came in tliis day, did not 
see any Indians or British, the teams had iviii rued hack to Lowei- 
Siindusky. 

To Burn a I'.ritish Ship. 

Thursday, 25th. — Cold. Preparing materials to fire the 
British ship Queen Charlotte. 

Friday, 2r)th. — This day marched fi-om this camp, Capt. 
Langham with 140 men under his command, foi- the purpose of 
crossing the T^ake on the ice by the way of Tjower Sandusky to 



65 

Maiden or within a very short distance of that phxce, to take pos- 
session of the (^,ueen Charlotte and burn her down. Lieut. Meeds 
with 30 men is with tlie detaclunent, his business will be to board 
the vessel and set her on fire. 

Saturda}', 27th. — Tliis day tlie teams are employed in hauling 
some boats up the river on the ice which lay not far below. 

Sunday, 28th. — I am sitting in a court martial; it commenc- 
ed on the 26th. We had a sermon preached this evening by Mr. 
Baggin; he had a great deal to say about the river Jordan — a story 
that will not do for soldiers. 

Monday, March 1st. — Pointing the blockhouses and complet- 
ing the stockading as fast as possible. 

Tuesday, 2nd. — This day came in two brigades of pack horses 
laden with flour and iron. We have at this time 600,000 weight 
of pork salted, and will have 'as much more by the time they are 
done salting, and as much beef. 

Wednesday, 3rd. — This day 1 began to get out the stufE for 
laying the floor to the grand battery; am still on court martial. 
The weather rainy and warm ; the mud about 8 inches deep all 
over camp. Jieut. Meek obtained leave to go home today, as 
pleased as a child with a rattle. 

Thursday, -ttli. — This day (.Jen. Harrison started for Cincin- 
nati by the way of Lower Sandusky; took with him all of his 
retinue. Major Alexander witli his battalion, a company of spies 
and some Indians, marched down to the mouth of the bay to cover 
the retreat of Capt. Langham if wanted. Gen. Harrisbn returned 
this evening to camp; could not pass that way in consequence of 
the lake being broke up. 

Friday, 5th.— This morning the General started again with 
all his suite by way of the blockhouse at Portage and to Upper 
Sandusky. The troops all arrived this day, botli Capt. Langham 
and Major Alexanders. They came back without success— the 
ice was too weak for their expedition. 

Saturday, 6th.— This day Lieut. Meek started for home. 
Corporal Wannan died this morning about 11 o'clock. I have 
stated the return of the troops— one day too soon. They arrived 
on Saturday, and Gen. Harrison left here on the same day at the 
same time. 

Sunday, ?th. — 'i'his day very cold. All hands to work at the 

batte^ry. The; Second Virginia Regiment moved within the lines. 

Monday, 8th.— Mounted one eighteen pounder yesterday. 

Tuesday, 9th. — This day three of our men were fired upon by 

the Indians on the opposite side of the river while they were after 



66 

grass for beds; one of them received a ball in his pocket, but 
lodged in his Psalm book; they made their escape in haste. On 
the 6th I had twenty-seven men transferred to my company from 
Capt. Bradford's company. 

Shot and Scalped. 

Wednesday, 10th. — Lieut. Walker of the Pennsylvania line, 
was missing last night; he was known by some of the company to 
have gone after ducks down the river yesterday. They went in 
search of him this morning, proceeded down the river about three 
miles, found him shot, tomahawked and scalped. Also he was 
poked under the ice. He was brought into camp about 9 o'clock 
this morning and buried this afternoon. 

Friday, 13th. — A very hard stomi of rain, hail and snow last 
night and continues to snow almost all day. Clears off towards 
evening, cold, hard times for wood, the water rising very fast in 
the river, the ice coming down the Eapids in great abundance. 

Saturday, 13th. — This day clear, the snow all disappeared. 
At work at the batteries with all hands. 

Sunday, 14th.— Weather good. Water very high in this 
river; four feet higher than it ever has been since this country 
was settled. A number of hogs, horses aiid cattle have been over- 
whelmed with the water and ice where tlie farmers' houses used to 
stand. 

Monday, 15th.- — Lieut. Larwill left for home. I salt my beef 
this day. 

Tuesday, 16tli. — One of my soldiers died last night by the 
name of Farccloth. 1 had him buried tliis day with the usual 
ceremonies. Lieut. Larwill returned this day; got defeated by the 
water that covers the whole face of the earth after leaving this 
camp one mile. 

Wednesday, 17th. — This being Saint Patrick's day some of 
our young waggish soldiers made a St. Patrick and placed it up 
against our quartennaster's chimney with the motto, "The Devil 
has come from Britain to sec old Capt. Wheaton," meaning our 
old quartermaster. Rained and hailed last night and mud vei-y 
deep all over the camp — not a dry foot in camp unless they stay 
close iu their tents. Lieut. Meeds left here yesterday with a party 
of men to proceed on to the Auglaize river, about 100 miles, after 
forage which will be brought down in boats to this place, as the 
Auglaize empties into this river. 

Country Inundated. 

Thursday, 18th. — This day is cloudy and somewhat rainy, 
with heavy wind. Capt. Wood, one of our engineers arrived 



67 

here with five other persons from Lower Sandusky. These are 
the first people that have arrived at tliis place from east, west, 
north or south for seven days, and it has taken them four days to 
come 30 miles. The whole country is inundated with water and 
broken ice. Our camp is overwhelmed with mud and water; my 
eyes never saw such a place for mankind to live in — not a markee 
or lent in the whole encajnpment but what has more or less mud 
and water in it, and what makes it much worse is for the want of 
wood. The timber is all cut off for a long distance from camp 
and there are no teams to haul any for the men; not a bushel of 
forage in this place; what teams we have. cannot work, for they 
have nothing to eat. Our men are very sickly; no wonder, lying 
in mud and water and without fire ; not less than two or three men 
die every day, and I expect the deaths to increase unless the 
weather changes very soon. The men this day have begun to 
catch fish. 1 bought one this evening for 75 cents; it weighed 5 
pounds. 

Friday, 19th. — This day a party of men about 40, went over 
the river expecting to see some Indians, but returned without. 
They saw several sigus such as moccasin tracks and found some 
bunches of hair tied up that they had left. One man of the party 
that went over did not return this day, he was missing when they 
came to the boat, waited some time for him and crossed over. 
This day I have finished the grand battery, placed four eighteen 
pounders in it ready for battle. 

Enchanting Scenery. 

Saturday, 20th. — A party of men went over the river this day 
in pursuit of the man that was lost yesterday; returned this even- 
ing without finding him. No doubt but that he has fallen a victim 
to savage and British fury. At this time this is the most roman- 
tic looking place that ever my eyes saw; to look from the battery 
on to the river and meadows is the greatest charm of any place 
that ever was in any country that ever I traveled in ; the water is 
gliding through the meadows swiftly and covered with all kinds of 
water fowl, and the ice which was left by the high water on the 
meadows is without bounds from three to fifteen feet deep, and 
that over more than half of the bottoms. 

Sunday, 31st. — This day pleasant, not very warm, but clear. 
A party of men, sixteen in number, went over the river this after- 
noon in order to lie in ambush for Indians in the night. They 
went down as low as the Old Fort and stayed until after night 
and concluded to march back. On their way back the officer 
commanding the party being in front, ordered the men to fire in 



68 

the bushes, saying "There are Indians, There are Indians," and 
pointing to the place. The men obeyed, this being about 9 o'clock 
in the evening. The flash of the guns was seen and \h.e repons 
heard in our camp, which caused alarm. Immediately the drums 
beat "To arms" and every man who could lift his musket was on 
parade in ten minutes, although a greater part were in bunlc, but 
it soon proved to be a false alarm and all returned to bed. 

Monday, 22nd.— This day warmer and windy. Col. Sutton 
was at this time attending to his trial; has put up with me since 
he arrived from Urbana with Capt. Black. Lieut. Meeds arrived 
here from Port Winchester with several boats. Lieut Larwill 
returned this day, it being the second time he has left here and 
returned. This day the mail arrived for the first time in two 
weeks. A small party of our men went up the river with a boat, 
in order to save a man that had got flung out of one of tlie boats 
that Lieut. Meeds came down with. He got onto a rock but the 
current was so very rapid that they could not take him otf and a 
boat was sent after him with six men. They got up the river 
three or four miles, discovered a party of Indians, about 50 in 
number, then returned and reported what they had seen. 

Tuesday, 23rd. — This morning a party of 250 under the com- 
mand of Major Todd crossed the river in pursuit of those fugi- 
tives; also another party in the boat pursued up the river after the 
man on the rock about four miles. Under cover of the advance 
guard, commanded by Capt. Croghan, they got ofl" the man, 
brought him safe to camp this evening; the front guard fell back 
toward the main body and they all encamped about four miles up 
the river on Uen. Winchester's old camping ground. 

Wednesday, 24th. — This morning the detachment all return- 
ed and saw no Indians, but came upon their tracks, but they had 
a long ways the start and swamp very bad, so that the command- 
ing oflicer thought it best not to pursue any farther. 

Thursday, 25th.— This morning Lieut. Larwill lett for home 
tlie tiiird thne. \\\; have a line parcel of fish caught last night, 
loi- llic (irst linu' this spring. An express arrived here this even- 
ing from Franklinton, fetclimg news of (iOO militia being on their 
way to this place and they will Ik' here in five days. 

Friday, 2(;th. — Robert i'crsons died last night, one of my 
soldii'rs. Col. Sutton left here this morning for home after being 
bonorahly acquitted by the court martial of the charges made 
against him by Major James Galloway. 

Court Martial. 

Saturday, 2Tth. — This day a general court martial convened. 



> 

I 



69 

Major Stoddarcl president, for the trial of several soldiers. Nine 
members and the Judge Advocate constitute the court — Capt. 
Langham, Capt. Croghan, Capt. Elliott, Capt. Cushing, Lieut. 
Gwynne, Lieut. Frederick and Ensign Ship are the members. 
There were three sentinels found sleeping on their post last night 
l)y the field oflicer of the day. Col. Evans: two of them were from 
t]ie Pennsylvana line and one of the Virginia line. Fine sentries 
to watch a camp against British and Indians — but it is as much 
as we could expect of militia. Tliis evening a party arrived from 
down the river that had been from this camp under the command 
of Capt. Bradford after some boats that were left there by the 
Canadian French when they retreated from the mouth of the 
river. This party came up as far as the Old British garrison, then 
landed, built fires, refreshed themselves and came on to camp. 

Sunday, 28th. — Snowing this morning after a very rainy 
night. One company of Virginia militia leaves camp this morn- 
ing for home. We are sitting on a court martial this day. tried 
Nathaniel Ewing for mutinous conduct to his captain. 

Mondav, 29th. — Letters arrived from Cen. Harrison to Gens. 
Ivcftrach and Crook wishing their brigades to stay a few days 
longer. These calls and invitations will not do; the government 
has not been punctual enough in paying their troops for them to 
stav longer. Major Todd sent his young man after his horse a 
short distance down the river this evening in company with some 
others; they all returned but his waiter, who is missing. 

Tuesday. 30th. — Major Todd sent an ensign and a partv of 
men this morning after his waiter; they returned, reported they 
could not find him; neither could they see any signs of him or 
Indians. 

Severe Sentence. 

Wednesdav. 31st.— This day a general court martial sentenc- 
ed John T. Mosby, a private in Capt. Bradford's company, for 
threatening to blow up the magazine and then to desert to the 
British, to be confined, tied to a post or log in a tent by himself 
one month, to have a handcuff on his right hand, to ride a wooden 
horse 30 minutes once a week for one month with a six pound ball 
fastened to each foot, to weai- a ball and chain the whole time, to 
have one eve brow and one side of liis head shaved and to be fed on 
bread and water onlv. After \hv time of confinement expires he is 
to be drummed out of camp and taken over the line of the Indian 
houndarv on the wav to Kentuckv. This evening two or three 
Frenchmen Nwnt down the river to fish, returned very soon, report- 
ed thev saw some Indians crossing the river, but on seeing them 



70 

they returned back to the other side and the Frenchmen fled to 
camp. 

Thursday, April 1st.— This day fine weather. Mr. Smith 
arrived from Lower Sandusky, states that Lieut. Larwill left 
that place for Cleveland on the 27th or 28th ulto. Went on 8 
miles that day, having a young Frenchman with him for a pilot. 
They encamped for the night, made a fire, but soon after they had 
lain down the lieutenant heard something which he took to be 
Indians, spoke to the young man, told him he heard Indians and 
told him to listen, which he did. The Frenchman heard the noise, 
told the lieutenant that it was an owl and he would go and 
shoot it, which he did, but 0, the report of the gun very much 
alarmed the warrior, he starts, he stops, he pants for breath, he 
hears the near approach of death, he does not stop to know the fate 
of his companion, nor to wait to know if it was the Frenchman's 
gun or Indian rifle that had won ; but left his sword, his coat, his 
script, and through the swamp he nimbly skipped, until he arrived 
at Sandusky bank, the river widp, the current swift, and he himself 
without a skift. He looked about and saw his fate, that there 
was no other escape but for him to trv his active limbs and s^e if 
he the gulf could s^unm, he plunges in and strusrarles hard, but 
could not reach the other shore : he turns about and with his eyef?. 
he sees the Frenchman to his great surprise. The lieutenant sup- 
posed that an Indian shot the Frenchman, not him who shot the 
owl. 

Friday, 2nd. — This dav all the Virginia troops but two small 
companies left camp, their times being out: also the Pennsvlvania 
brigade except what volunteered to stav 15 davs — about 200. The 
command this dav devolves upon Maior Stoddard ; the guards 
were moved within pickets last night for the first time. 

News of the British Force. 

Saturday, 3rd. — This day four men arrived in camp from 
Detroit, giving a very correct statement. They say that the British 
have in Maiden and in Detroit about 600 regulars, 700 militia and 
about 500 Indians. They further say that they contemplate an 
attack on this place as soon as the ice breaks in the lake, so that 
they can come with their vessels to fetch their artiller}''. 

Sunday, 4th. — We are often alarmed by the discharge of mus- 
kets. Night before last one of my men, a sentinel on the grand 
battery discovered something part of the way down the hill ; he 
hailed him three times, no reply ; he then discharged his piece on 
him; the man cleared himself, took the course down the river; it 
is supposed it was an Indian as they came this morning about 9 



71 

o'clock, killed, tomahawked and scalped one of our men within 250 
yards of one of our blockhouses. The sentry saw the flash, heard 
the report and saw the man fall. A party immediately under the 
command of Capt. Langham went in pursuit of them, followed 
them about eight miles, but could not come up with them; it is 
thought they have killed one more or taken him prisoner, as one 
is missing. Capt. Croghan with 30 men, was sent after Capt. 
Langham about 3 o'clock in order to cover his retreat if wanted. 
They all returned about dark this evening. 

Capt. Tjangham reports that he heard two guns on his march; 
also reports they saw the Indians, but they got in the boats some 
distance below them, and were crossing the river. He could plain- 
ly hear them shout as they crossed and heard several guns on the 
other side. 

Tuesday, 6th. — This morning fine and clear, all hands to 
work. I am with my company repairing the little battery, about 
150 repairing the pickets, clearing off brush and small trees about 
the camp and preparing to build two small magazines to contain 
the powder. Capt. Wheat ton, the quartermaster, left here this 
morning for home with al)out 50 or 60 militia whose time of 
service was out; also five or six men from Detroit that had lately 
come into camp. This day one of Capt. Bradford's corporals was 
accidentally shot by one of his men through the leg. The doctors 
were obliged to cut off his leg just above the knee. 

Wednesday, 7th. — This morning about 1 o'clock, I went the 
guard rounds with the officer of the day, Major Todd, found the 
soldiers very vigilant that were on duty. This day Major Hull 
arrived here from Cincinnati with ten of Major Ball's squadron 
of horse. He says Gen. HaiTison will be here in three days with 
the remainder of Major Ball's squadron ; also states that we shall 
have a re-enforcement of infantry hero in two days. The artific- 
ers are putting up wfitch towers around the camp within the 
gates. 

Surprised by Indians. 
Thursday, 8th.— This day has proved to be a very unfortunate 
one to some of mv men. Sergeant Kelly with six of my men went 
into the woods about half a mile from camp after timber. A 
partv of Indians came upon them while they were unloading; 
they" got between the teams before they showed themselves. As 
soon as the men discovered them they started; three of them had 
their guns with them, the rest had set their guns up by a tree to 
help load. Felix Hudes, who drove one team, was shot dead, 
tomahawked and scalped in a most barbarous manner. Joseph 



72 

Patterson and John Kelly were both taken prisoners, the rest 
made their escape unhurt. A party immediately pursued after 
the savages as soon as the news came to camp. This scene took 
place up the river from camp. Another party went down the 
river in order to intercept them when they came to their boats. 
Another party went down the river in boats. The first 
boat had twelve Frenchmen in it under the command of 
Mr. Peters; they got off first. The party that went by land got 
separated, a part of them returned to camp, finding themselves lost 
from the others, and only five in number. The remainder pur- 
sued on about five miles and returned also. The Frenchmen that 
were in the first boat soon came upon the Indians about half a 
mile below where Lieut. Gwynne and his party returned back. The 
Indians, twelve in number, took two boats, five in each, ran out 
into the river in order to stop them. Five Indians stayed on land, 
which made fifteen Indians against twelve Frenchmen and they 
in three parties. The Frenchmen allowed they killed five and 
wounded three that were in the boat. The Indians ran ashore, 
took in the Indians that were on the land and cleared out down 
the river. Seven of the Frenchmen were wounded, two very bad, 
five slightly, two must die. Capt. Langham with his party passed 
the Frenchmen soon after the battle, put on after them with all 
speed. 

There has been firing heard this evening down the river — it is 
expected that he has come up with them and given them battle. 
The party that first Avent after the Indians soon returned, came 
upon the tracks of the savages, found where they passed along the 
prisoners, found one of their guns, but found they could not over- 
take them and gave up the chase. 

Friday, 9th. — Major Ball arrived with his squadron, about 
220 in number; they encamped on the bottom exactly in front of 
the grand battery. Gen Harrison has not arrived here with the 
squadron as was expected. One thing 1 have neglected to state — 
Col. Stevens of Ross County, Ohio, arrived here on the 8th with 
80 or i)0 men — some little help. Capt. Langham returned here 
this afternoon from down the river; he reports he went down as 
Far as the lake and that the ice was all out of sight, nothing but 
the lake water to be seen; he also reports that he went 
ashore with a party at Swan Creek, which is al)out eight miles 
below this camp; he found in the creek fourteen Indian canoes; 
two of them were the two that the Frenchmen had the conflict 
with a little before. They were peppered full of holes with balls, 
and a lnrg(> quantity of blood in both canoes. They also found 



73 

four or five liorses that they had left and shot them. It is sup- 
posed tliat they were the horses that belonged to the Indians that 
were killed and the rest had mounted and rode off. They de- 
stroyed all the boats but two, which they brought to camp. 

Saturday, 10th. — This morning about daylight, an alarm 
took place. Major Ball, who lay outside of the garrison with his 
squadron, had formed his men in two lines from the river to the 
hill under the walls of the fort, one on the right of the squadron, 
the other on the left. The line on the left was much the longest 
as the distance was the greatest from the river to the fort. The 
lines had been formed some time when one of his lieutenants 
tliought he saw an Indian. He was on the left of the left line 
next to the fort on the side hill. He spoke to the sergeant that 
stood by his side, told him to shoot him ; the sergeant spoke low 
and replied, "Perhaps it is one of our men out there." The lieu- 
tenant hailed three times ; no one answered ; the sergeant fired ; 
tliey saw several things move which caused several of them to fire ; 
the troops all were at their posts within the garrison very soon. 
The squadron were all moved within the pickets this day. 

Sunday, 11th.- — This day windy and cold from the northeast. 
T finished the little battery this evening. The lines were formed 
all along the lines of picket this evening; we found them all well 
manned. I have been today employed in having the ammunition 
distributed to all the cannon. 

Gen. Harrison Arrives. 

Monday, 12th. — Gen. Harrison arrived here this day ; Col. 
Miller with him with 100 regulars and 100 militia ; had forage 
and salt on the boats. Capt. Nering commanded the regulars. T 
fired a salute on Gen. Harrison's arrival, 15 guns— 10 sixes and 5 
eigh teens. 

Tuesday, 13th.— This day is a day of general fatigue; both 
officers and soldiers employed in building breastworks, repairing 
the pickets, laying blockhouse floors, repairing the grand battery, 
digging well, digging up stumps and cutting and fetching punch- 
eons for the floors of the blockhouses. 

Wednesdav, 14th. — This day Capt. Hamilton arrived here 
with 50 men militia from Butler County. The men all employed 
as they were yesterday. We are expecting the British and Indians 
to attack us every night. 

Thursday, 15th. — Very cold and windy. On(> of llic senti- 
nels shot a horse last night supposing it to be an Indian. 

Friday, IGth.— This day preparing for an at lack from the 
British and Indians. Our l)atteries, blockhouses and pickets are 



74 

almost completed and traversed all around. Wm. Clarke, a pri- 
vate in Capt. Nering's company, was brought out to be shot. All 
the troops on the ground were assembled. His sentence was read 
to him and he appeared to be unconcerned as to his fate. He was 
reprieved by tlie General. Major Todd sipped with me this even- 
ing on turtle soup. 1 liave been very much indisposed, but am 
better this evening. C^apt. Wadsworth of the Pennsylvania 
militia, died last evening, was buried at 4 o'clock this afternoon. 
He was left sick when the brigade was disbanded. 

Saturday, 17th.— This day very pleasant. A party of Major 
Ball's sqiuidron went down the river to Presque Isle to make dis- 
covery, but rejiorted they saw nothing worth notice. Another 
party of Indians nnd whites went down on the other side. They 
were ordered to go (o the Piver Paisin. Wm. Clarke had his head 
shaved and was drummed out of camp. This evening we are ex- 
pecting an attack every day, but we fear tliey will not come. 

Sunday, 18th. — This day the Indians and white men that 
went down to the Piver Paisin on the Ifith, returned with three 
Frenchmen with them. These men say that the party of Indians 
that killed Pudes and took my two men prisoners passed by where 
they were with both of them, and also state that the Frenchmen 
that went down the river after the party in boats that took their 
men, killed six, two mortally wounded as they supposed, for one 
was shot through the breast, the other through both arms and 
breast. They say that Tecumseh with 80 Indians, .passed through 
there the 16th on his way to Maiden; they also state that the Brit- 
ish and Indians intend to attack us in ten or twelve days. 

Monday, 19th.— Tliis day. Col. Mills arrived here with 100 
men, came down the river in boats from St. Marys, fetched 700 
bushels of forage, 40 barrels of whisky, 500 barrels of 
flour, all in good order. Most of these men were from Warren 
county — Capt. Simonton's rifle company and Capt. Shaw's militia. 

Tuesday, 20th.— This day a party of regulars and militia 
crossed the river for the purjiose of clearing off the brush, that the 
enemy should not have the advantage of them in fortifying, if 
they should have the presumption to come here to attack us. Gen. 
Harrison went over, took along with him Major Stoddard and 
others to view the ground. This evening Capt. Holt arrived here 
with about 3^) regulars and 153 militia from Kentucky; a brigade 
of pack horses came with them and fetched their baggage. 

Weduesday, 21st. — Capt. Holt with his company was attached 
to the artillery this day. 

Fridav, 23rd. — This morning a very heavy rain, the river 



75 

rose to a verv high pitch, Capt. Holt niovod his men on to my left 
tliis evening. 

Saturday, 24th. — This day T moved my company in front of 
the grand batte^}^ The infantry began to drill. 

(Here a few days of the Diary is missing.) 

I took good aim at them, the ball stmck just over them, they 
fell down at the flash, they lay still until T had loaded again, and 
Capt. AYood had loaded his eighteen pounder in his loft. At 
length they started for the woods. Capt. Wood gave them a shot 
and I followed suit. They both stmck very close to them ; there 
were foiirteen seen there before we fired, and but 12 remained in 
the old fort, where the remainder of ilieir party were plain to be 
seen with a spy glass. This is the first time I have discharged a 
piece at an enemy in 'M years. 

British Forces Gathering. 

Wednesdav, 2<Sth. — T;ast night we had the heaviest rain that 
T ever knew and verv hard thunder. This morning we had the 
pleasure of seeing about ."500 "British down the river and a number 
of Indians and British came opposite to our fort and fired at our 
men that were on the river bottom. T gave them one shot with an 
eighteen pounder which made them leave their stations. Capt. 
Hamilton was sent down th^^ river this morning — he reported Ihat 
the British had landed on the other side about 1.500 or 2.000. 
We expect a hard fight this night. T have completed the abatis 
this evening in front of the grand batterv. The whole ainny was 
at work this day, one third at a time, heaving up a traverse 
through the camp. A party of drasroons rode out a short distance 
from camp this evening: one of them received a ball in bis arm 
from the rifle of an Indian — there was a party watching for our 
men. 

Thursday, 29th.- — This dav we are emploved in finishing the 
traverse and making readv for battle, for we have been surrounded 
bv British and Indians for two davs. We let loose our cannonade 
on them yesterday and have kept it up bv ppolls all this dav, and 
shall let loose upon them this evening with an eighteen pounder 
that is already elevated. 

Friday, 30th. — We have been all dav emploved in traversing 
throuo-h the camp, plavincr upon their batteri'^s with our eifrhteen 
pounders and throwing grape and cannister shot at the Indians 
which are in our rear and on onr flanks. We have had one man 
killed and fi or 7 wounded bv the Indians this day. 
The Battle Begun. 

Saturday, May 1st.— At 2 o'clock in the morning the British 



76 

opened their artillerv upon our garrison from their gun-boats, 
which lay one and one-half miles below us, but it was without 
elfe(3t. At 8 o'clock they hoisted the red flag at their lower bat- 
tery and commenced firing with 24, 12 and 6 pounders, and eight 
inch mortars. They fired at us this day 240 shot and shells; did 
very little damage. They continued firing shells through the 
night but not often, just enough to keep our camp from rest. We 
keep up a heavy fire on them all day from different parts of our 
camp, the Indians are very thick on our flank and in our rear. We 
have not more iban two killed and four wounded today. 

Sunday, 2nd. — They kept u]i their boml)ardment all night, 
but not very often, enough to keep the men on the watch. This 
morning they commenced a heavy fire from all their batteries both 
with cannonade and bombs, and our camp is completely surrounded 
with Indian and British keeping up a heavy fire of musketry and 
rifles. They threw at us this day about 350 shot, a large propor- 
tion of them red hot; we had about 4 killed, 7 wounded this day, 
they keep up the business of sending over their shells this evening. 

Monday, 3rd. — This morning I gave them a morning gun at 
break of day, which passed through their upper battery. They 
i-eturned pretty much the same, and thai all day. This day we 
discovered that they liad a small battery on this side of the river, 
about 300 yards on our right flank. The Indians had been for 
two days firing at our men fi-om that direction which kept us 
from noticing what they were about. They opened on us from 
that battery one six pounder and one five and a half inch 
howitzer which made a coinplete cross-fire through our camp. 
This dav we received about ."iin shots from them and lost about 
the same number of men as we did yesterday, killed and wound- 
ed. 

Tuesday 4th. — They still keep up their fire with shot hot 
and cold and bombs ; killed a few men. wounded some. This 
evening Mr. Oliver who was sent out to moi'i Gen. Clay came 
down the riv(^r in a boat; arrived here tonight about 12 o'clock. 
He brought tlic news that Gen. Clay with his brigade would be 
bore bv break of day; this ])ut our eam,]i in motion. Every man 
was up and preparing for battle. 

Gen. Clay's Arrival. 
Wednesday ~)ih. — This morning about 3 o'clock Gen. Har- 
rison sent Ca])t. Hamilton. Ca])t.. Sluiw and one other up the 
river to meet Gen. Clay with orders for him to land about 700 
nrben two miles above cami) on the other side of the river, pro- 
ceed down to their batteries, spike their cannon and retreat im- 



n 

mediately back to their boats, but to eonie down under the cover 
of my battery. They complied so far as to land the men, march 
them down to their battery, drive tliem from their guns, spike 
some of them, take down their colors, but did not retreat as 
ordered; pursued the Indians into the woods until about 200 
of them fell into tlie enemies" hands and 100 supposed to be 
killed — the rest made tlieir escape up to their boats and arrived 
safe at camp. At the time the balance of the brigade was float- 
ing to camp from where the men landed. Tlie Indians and 
liiitish kept up a heavy fire on them from the woods; the men 
left their boats lighting them. The cavalry witli jMajor Alexan- 
der's battalion sallied out and drove them into the woods and 
then retreated into the garrison. There were several killed and 
several wounded, the Indians followed them within 150 yards 
of the gate. This sally was made from the left wing of our 
camp. Another sally was made at the same time from the right 
wing b}' Col. Miller. He drove the British and Indians from 
their little battery, spiked their guns and howitzer, took about 
43 prisoners of which 'I were officers. We had several killed and 
wounded. After the battle ceased the British sent into our 
camp a flag of truce the bearer of which was Major Chambers. 
Gen. Harrison permitted the two regular officers to return back 
to their camp; they gave us but two shots after tlie battle was 
over. 

Thursday 6th. — This day no fighting. A complete cessation 
of arms on both sides. The flag passed both to and from each 
camp, and men employed in complettng their bomb proof; the 
weather very rainy and has been for three or four days, which 
puts our camp in a dismal situation. 

Friday Tth. — The British are very peaceable; they have sent 
up a flag from the old fort, made arrangements to have prisoners 
exchanged, and have taken them to their camp this evening. The 
prisoners that they took from us are to be sent to Huron; we 
Have sent down boats to transport them to that phice; also have 
sent down provisions and blankets for them. 

Saturday 8th. — The rain still continues. We have not re- 
ceived any shots from the British this day; they appear to be 
making pn'ijarations to decamp; if they are not they are laying 
some deep plan to annoy us. Tlie Indians have not been on this 
side today as usual; in fact there have been but very few seen 
this day on either side. 

Britisli Give Up the Fight. 

Sunday 9th. — Last night two men deserted from tlie British 



78 

and swimming the river came into our camp. They state on being 
examined that the enemy moved olf the greater part of their 
<jannon the night before last, and the rest last night. Thej 
also state that the British and the Indians have all cleared out; 
they state further that news had arrived in their camp- within 24 
hours that Little York had fallen into the hands of the Ameri- 
cans. They state that the Indians had got mad and would not 
stay any longer in consequence of the British not letting them 
have a share in the plunder that was given up in this fort, for 
thoy supposed that we had suiTendered, as the white flag had 
been passing so very often. I have been out on the battle ground 
this day; found several dead men, the most of them scalped and 
tomahawked. The British took down their colors about 10 
o'clock this morning, went aboard of their boats and cleared 
themselves for Maiden. We gave them a few stern shots as 
they left their camp, and three cheers when they lowered their 
colors. Also we fired a salute at 12 o'clock three times around 
the fort. The sight of dead men has become no more terrifying 
than the sight of dead flies on a summer day. 

Monday 10th. — This is the first fair day we have experienced 
in eight days. A party of men crossed the river this afternoon 
in order to reconnoitre the battle ground on that side and make 
discoveries of the dead, that a party may go tomorrow and bury 
them. They reported that they saw but one dead man above 
ground but saw several graves. The British left their camp 
in great haste by appearance, for they left behind one set of 
carriage wheels and a large quantity of shot and shells. I 
pitched my markee for the first time this day since the siege, also 
the tents of my company. 

Gathering Dudley's Dead. 

Tuesday lllh. — This day a party of men went over the 
river in search of the men that were killed in the battle of the 
fifth, they found 45 men dead and scalped — amongst them was 
('ol. Dudley of the Kentucky militia and several other officers 
of lower grade. 'IMic party dug holes and buried them. Capt. 
Holt with a party of the artilleiy crossed the river after the shot 
and shells that the British left; he found several, fetched them 
over and one large pair of gun wheels. Major Amos Stoddard 
of the artillery died this evening about 11 o'cloc^k; his death 
was caused by a wound he received the first day of the siege, 
which was the first day of May; the wound was caused by a shell 
bursting in the air over the grand battery. 

Wednesday 12th. — This day Gen. Harrison left camp for the 



79 

settlement. A short time after he had left the camp an express 
arrived here from Gen. Durbin informing him that Little York 
had fallen into the hands of the Americans with 1,000 men; 
the letters also stated that the British Magazine blew up and 
destroyed 300 of our men. Gen. Pike was amongst the sufferers. 
I had the remains of Major Stoddard buried today in front of 
the grand battery on the spot where he received the wound which 
caused his death. Another party crossed over the river this 
afternoon in search of dead men — they found two of the militia 
and three Indians. Major Todd, Capt. Langham, Ensign Butler 
Harrison, Lieut. Eeeves and several others started down the river 
in order to sail around to Huron and from thence to Cleveland. 

Thursday 13th. — This morning ]\Iajor Todd and the officers 
that started with him last night all returned; the lake was too 
rough for their boat. I have had all the shot and shells collect- 
ed this day; find we have a large number more than we had 
when the siege commenced. The weather very fine ; the men have 
tine fun fishing. 

Friday 14th. — This day tlie militia left the ground in 
the rear of my company. I cleared off the ground they occupied 
and moved my company on to it. Tln-ee British regulars came 
into our cainp this morning; they state that the British left 
them behind, but 1 expect that they have deserted, but don't 
like to own it. The mail arrived this day; brings the pleasing 
news that Fort George was taken by ilie Americans as well as 
Little York. 

Saturday 15th. — This day I moved my tent from the Grand 
Battery; had the bomb proofs filled up in front of my camp. 
Andrew Nichelsou died this morning about 4 o'clock. Major 
Hukell, Major Pintel, myself and thirteen of my soldiers crossed 
the river this afternoon in order to reconnoitre the old British 
camp that they left in haste. We found several balls; also a 
man came to us who was taken by the. Indians on the day of the 
battle; he was taken to Brownstown and he and one other made 
their escape from that place, but the other got shot at the River 
Raisin by an Indian. He states that a large number of our men 
were killed by the Indians after they were taken; he says he 
saw twelve or fourUnm shot down himself; he also states that 
the Indians have all returned to their towns. 

Sunday 16th. — This day very pleasant. I have made garden; 
set out lettuce and planted radishes, etc. A party of men cross- 
ed the river, went down as far as the old British fort, saw three 



80 

dead men that were killed the day of the battle, found several 
muskets, some cannon balls and one very large chain. 

Good Fishing. 
Monday 17th. — Fine weather this morning, my men in high 
spirits, fish plenty, no want of provisions, all that is wanting to 
have things com,plete is a little whisky. I took a sail in a small 
canoe this morning and caught 62 white bass that would weigh 
about one pound each; returned before dinner; caught them 
with a hook and line baited with a red rag. I moved two eigh- 
teen pounders from the lower battei7 to the grand battery this 
day. 

Tuesday 18th. — Nothing new this day; our camp getting in 
fine order in respect to cleanliness; the men are becoming more 
healthy since the dry weather commenced; this evening has com- 
menced witii rain which will be very useful. 

Wednesday 19th. — Xo rain last night as was expected. 
This day very pleasant, rather cold. 1 placed a sentinel at the 
Croghan battery this day. 

Thursday 20th. — My men all well employed fishing. Two 
lieutenants caught 375 with hooks. 

Friday 21st. — This day 1 crossed the river with a party of 
my men; found 47 balls that we fired at them from our batteries 
and block houses during the siege; also we found one Indian 
Chief that was killed by a cannon ball that I fired from the big 
battery; a prisoner that we have here confirmed it to be true; at 
the time 1 fired at them one of my men that was looking to see 
where the ball would strike said the ball had killed a man that 
was on a gray horse ; this prisoner says that this is the man. 

Saturday 22d. — Fine weather; a number of men sick in 
camp; several died, not more than could be expected, considering 
the severe fatigue and the badness of the weather they have ex- 
perienced for the last thirty days. 

Sunday 2:3d. — This day 1 went over the river with twelve of 
my men in liiiiit of cannon balls; found some, found several dead 
men tliat were not buried, they were killed during the fight on 
the r)th. I went down as low as the old fort, discovered that 
Ihcr*' luid l)(vn a large number of men buried there, several of 
oui-s and some of theirs. We returned l)ack to camp about 2 o'clock; 
round several balls. Soon -Aiiev I got back a very heavy tempest 
of thunder, wind and rain commenced; continued the remaining 
part of tiie afternoon and until late in the evening. 

Monday 24th. — The rain still continues very hard. Samuel 
Grossman, one of my soldiers, died last night. 



81 

Wednesday 26th. — This day Lieut. Hackley arrived here from 
Kentucky and several men with him. 

Thursday 37th. — This day as usual, only our men cleaning 
fish that were caught yesterday with a seine. At two hauls caught 
six barrels. Col. Miller, who commands at this time, thought 
it advisable to send a party of men, 130, up to Fort Defiance 
in order to fetch down a quantity of flour that is there. Having 
some suspicion that there might be some Indians about, he sent 
Capt. John and two other men in front. They left camp two 
hours before tlie party got ready, went up within one-half mile 
of Eush-de-Boo; discovered on this side six Indians and nine on 
the other side, those on the side that they were on, retreated in 
haste, got back to the river just as the party were crossing, came 
over and reported to Col. Miller; the party were all ordered back 
for the present. 

Friday 38th. — This morning four men arrived from Detroit 
in a boat; they made their escape in the night; they state that 
twenty Indians had left Maiden for the purpose of coming to lurk 
about this camp in order to catch a prisoner or two and intercept 
the mail as it comes through. Tliis afternoon two mails arrived 
safe. Major Vorhees from Iventucky brought them in company 
With several others. The weather cold and unpleasant for the 
time of year. 

Sunday 30th. — Kainy part of the day; measles and mumps 
very prevalent in camp at this time. 

Monday 31st. — This day all tlie troops, both regulars, volun- 
teers and militia passed muster and inspection by Major Hukill. 

Tuesday, June 1st. — Nothing new this day except drawing 
seine; they caught a large quantity of fish. 

Wednesday 3d. — This day Conrad Deguire, one of my sol- 
diers, died very suddenly; he had been sick for a long time but 
liad got better so that he was able to walk about the camp and 
to the river; at 13 o'clock his messmates called him to dinner, 
but he did not come, nor answer ; tliey went to the tent and found 
him dead. This afternoon Capt. Holt left camp with 100 men 
for Fort Winchester after fioar and whisky. 

Thursday 3d. — This day Lieut. Gwynn and several others 
left camp for the settlements to recruit their health. Our me- 
chanical work goes along very well, repairing gun carriage, axes, 
wagons and small arms, the troops very industrious keeping the 
camp clean. Our wounded are in a fine way to recover shortly, 
all but one man, he must die very soon. 

Friday 4th. — This day veiy fine weatlier — two men arrived 



82 

here from Cleveland with a boat load of potatoes, 150 bushels, 
sold them all out in a few hours at $Ji.OO per bushel ; they return- 
ed tliis evening. Dr. Mervin took passage to Cleveland for the 
purpose of recruiting his liealth. The above mentioned wounded 
man died this evening; his name was iVIeek, one of Capt. Near- 
ing's soldiers. Eight line steers came into onr lines this morning 
from the woods. 

. Saturday 5th. — Commenced rainmg about 4 o'clock this 
evening with heavy thunder, continues on until guard, still rain- 
ing very hard. Capt. rhillips of the Ohio militia arrested by 
Col. Miller for neglect of duty. 1 had for supper this evening 
a cup of tea and piece of bread only — liigh living. 

Sunday Gth. — This day rainy by sliowers; killed three steers 
that the men might have some fresh meat. 

Monday 7th. — This morning good news; an express arrived 
about 12 o'clock last night from Gen. Durbin with intelligence 
that Fort George was taken by the Americans, and that Gen. 
Prevost had the assurance to cross the lake to Sackett's Harbor 
with 1,500 men, and was completely defeated by Gen. Brown witli 
a loss of 300 killed and taken prisoners. Col. Miller, who com- 
mands at tliis place at this time, in consequence of Gen. Clay's 
indisposition, ordered that there should be a salute fired at 12 
o'clock tliis day of 18 guns; ail the music in the garrison was 
paraded on the top of tlie big battery where the salute was 
fired out of two brass twelve pounders; we had drums, fifes, 
flutes, clarionets, violins, timbrels and a bass drum. After the 
firing and the music I had Gen. Clay, Col. Miller and Major 
Sodwick to dine with Capt. Gratiot and myself; dined on soup 
and roast beef and for desert a plate of strawberries. 

Tuesday 8th.— liainy. A party arrived here tliis day from 
Lower Sandusky with 70 or 80 fat cattle, also a part of the men 
tbat went up the river with Capt. Holt arrived with some flour 
and some twelve pound shot. Say tliey left at the head of the 
rapids thirteen boats laden with flour, the water so low that they 
could not come over the falls. 

Wednesday 9th. — Cloudy this morjiing, threatening rain all 
day; in the afternoon, butchered fine beef. A party went this 
morning to help down with the boats and the flour; another party 
took up some pirogues to lighten heavy boats. Four o'clock com- 
menced raining fast. 1 took a stroll up the river this morning 
with Major Huckill after strawberries, found plenty; my garden 
looks very flourishing at this time. I have lettuce, large and 
small radishes, sage, mint, onions, peas and beans. 



83 

Thursday 10th. — This day veiy warm, thunders some, rains 
a trifle. Col. Miller sent Lieut. Fredericks and about 40 men 
up tlie river to help down with some of the boats — they got up 
fll)0ut three miles and met a party of Indians about 15 or 16 
in number all on horse-back ; they fired at them and then retreat- 
ed down on to the bottom and fonned a line of battle, the Indians 
formed in a line also in the woods; tlie firing was heard at camp; 
a party of 100 was sent off immediately to their assistance; they 
crossed the river, the others being on that side; met tliem witliin 
one m/ile of camp, turned them back and all proceeded up to 
where the boats were they were after, fetched down the boats but 
discovered no Indians. Mr. Perr}', one of the Petersburg volun- 
teers, died this morning. 

Friday 11th. — This morning warm and cloudy, Major Hukell 
left here for the City of Washington by the way of Fort De- 
fiance or Fort Winchester; he has with him Major Vorhees who 
is going on to Kentucky. Major Sodwick with 100 men going 
to Fort Winchester after flour and other stores, the three men that 
were sent up the river, Capt. Shaw and two others, returned about 
llo'clock; their orders were to proceed to the head of the Rapids 
without delay with orders to the commanding officer to come on 
with the boats as quick as possible; they report they have done 
according to orders, been up to the above place, delivered the 
orders, and state the boats will be here to-morrow; they also 
state that they came upon the trail of the Indians that were seen 
yesterday by Lieut. Fredericks and party, but that they had made 
their way down the river. Mr. Dodds, one of the Pittsburg blues, 
died this day. 

Saturday 13th. — This day Capt. Bradford dined with us. 
Capt. Wood joined mess with Capt. Gratiot and me on the 10th. 
Tliirteen boats and several pirogues arrived here laden with 
flour, salt, whisky, soap and candles. Several men with two 
horses and eight head of cattle were seen down at the old fort 
this afternoon. Sergeant Meldrum caught an Indian horse this 
day. 

Sunday 13th. — A tremendous thunder gust last night with 
heavy rain and hail, this morning pleasant. Mr. Asa Stoddard, 
Major Spaflord and Major Farley arrived here with two boats 
from Cleveland laden with produce and dry goods; I got twenty- 
four pounds of butter, a bag ol pickles and a large cheese. 

Monday 14th.— This day the gentleman that arrived here 
yesterday with produce sold to the amount of $1,500. 

Tuesday 15th.— This day Gen. Clay took the command of 



84 

the garrison — ordered a general court martial for the purpose of 
Q, M. Lea's trial, of the 19th Regiment. Isaac Simpson died 
this day, one of my soldiers. 

Wednesday 16th. — This day two boats left here for Cleve- 
land. Capt. McCrea and Lieut. McGee, with several of the 
Petersburg volunteers went out in the boats for the purpose of 
recruiting their health, also six of my soldiers for the same 
purpose; furloughed for thirty days, Thomas Golden, James 
McCurdy, Robert Persons, Richard Gwynn, Francis Wartenbee 
and William Shields. Gen. Clay ordered the traverse from the 
gate at the northeast end of the big battery that extended to the 
main traverse leveled, which was done. 

Saturday 19th. — This day Capt. Hatfield arrived here from 
Fort Winchester with seven or eight boats laden with flour. I 
commenced reading the histoiy of Modern Europe, one volume. 
My men laid the little battery floor. A hard shower this evening. 

News of Another Attack. 

Sunday 20th. — Last night one of Capt. Nearings' soldiers 
died while on guard, it is supposed — he took something that pois- 
oned him; he was opened by the surgeons, they could not dis- 
cover any defects. Two men arrived here this day from Detroit-; 
they fetch intelligence that the British are coming to pay us 
another visit; they will have 2,000 regulars and from 4,000 to 
6,000 Indians, 2,000 of the Indians are to start from Browns- 
town tomorrow for this place and the British will be here as soon 
as the troops arrive from down the lake, which will be within 
a few days. This news has aroused us to arms within this 
garrison and has induced us to put ourselves in the posture of 
defense as fast as possible. One party of men were sent over the 
river this afternoon and demolished all the batteries the British 
had hove up at the other siege. Another party was employed in 
clearing off the bushes for a long distance around the fort. I 
liad my men employed in fetching up the gun carriages from 
Ihc blacksmith shop and mounting the guns. An express has 
been sent to meet Gen. Harrison two or three ways; another is 
sent up to Fort Winchester to meet Col. Johnson to urge him 
on with all possible speed. 

Monday, June 21, 1813. — This day all the effective men 
within the garrison are on guard or on fatigue, repairing the 
batteries, ck'aring off the woods around the camp, cutting, haul- 
ing and placing arbonets in front of all the batteries. Every 
man appears to be working for his own safety. Two Frenchmen 
and two olhers have been sent down the river as far as the bay 



85 

to make discoveries; they will return tomorrow. I mounted all 
the cannon this afternoon and put them into their proper bat- 
teries and blockhouses. A soldier of Capt. Langham's company 
arrived here this evening from Fort Winchester; states that Col. 
Johnson is there with 800 mounted men. 

Tuesday 22d. — This day all the camp busily employed in 
strengthening the garrison wherever there appeared to be a weak 
place. One man arrived here from Franklinton; states that Gen. 
MacArthur is there with 500 regulars; he also states that there 
are 500 more at Upper Sandusky of the 24th Eegiment. Eight 
men arrived here from Fort Winchester, a part of Col. Johnson's 
regiment of cavalry ; the regiment will be in to-morrow early in 
tlie morning. Two men anived here from Kentucky this day; 
they bring no particular news. About 100 men have been for 
three days employed in clearing off all the wood and bushes about 
the camp. A good deal of rain fell this evening. It is about 
nine o'clock in the evening and the Kentuckians are just ap- 
proaching the ferry on the other side where they will encamp 
for this night. 

Wednesday 23d. — At 3 o'clock gun fire by the Kentucky 
cavalry on the opposite shore raised a horrid yell in imitation of 
the Indians; this is conduct very unbecoming an officer or soldier. 
They commenced crossing the river about 6 o'clock; about 12 they 
had all got over with their horses except what horses had strayed 
from their camp, when the gun fired; these horses all took 
flight, several men were run over and very much hurt, one dead, 
the blow he received by a horse's foot broke his skull. My men 
completed the abbatis in front of the little battery and repaired 
them in front of the big battery. Col. Johnson's rcgiment of 
mounted men encamped down on the bottom next to the river for 
tlie present. At 10 o'clock in the evening the boats that have the 
Itaggage of Col. Johnson's regiment are landing; they are laden 
with flour, whisky and pork: he left a part of them at the head 
of the Rapids. 

Thursday 24th.— Tins morning very cold and windy. A 
party of spies w^ere sent down the river in order to make dis- 
coveries— came back and reported they saw three savages and 
several horses; it is expected we shall have another visit in a few 
days from them. 

Friday 25th.— The weather still very cold, so much so that 
winter clothing is very comforta})le. A party of spies returned 
this evening fi-on^ the mouth of the river and state they saw 
nothing like Indians or British while they were gone. 



86 

Saturda)^ June 26th. — This day warm and pleasant; the 
spies returned from down the river; report that they saw noth- 
ing like Indians or British. Lieut. Sanders and party arrived 
this afternoon from the head of the Rapids with the boats and a 
part of the floor that Col. Johnson left when he came down. 
They left about 200 barrels rolled out on the shore. 

Ancient Battlefield. 

I have spent several hours in walking by myself around the 
garrison both outside of the pickets and inside of the batteries. 
T find by examination that this place must have been a seat of 
war for ages past. In almost every place where we have thrown 
up the earth we find human bones in great plentv. Yesterday 
the fatigue party that were digging a trench in the front of block 
houses No. 3 and 4 came on a pile of bones where they took out 
25 skulls all in the one pit. A tree had grown over the pit that 
was several feet over, say four. In walking around this garrison 
on the earth that has been thrown up it was like walking on the 
sea shore upon the old mussel shells, only in this case, human 
bones. 

Sunday, June 27th. — This day very warm; the spies re- 
turned from down the river; they report they saw no signs of the 
Indians or British, but heard the report of eleven cannon out on 
the lake. Mr. Smith arrived here with two cows and two calves, 
brought sugar, coffee, tea and cranberries. This evening we 
have radishes for the first time this season, 

Monday 28th. — This morning Henry Fieldeman, one of my 
soldiers, died of lock jaw. Capt. Langham with three others 
arrived here last night about 11 o'clock; they left (rcn. Harrison 
with the 24th Regiment about 15 miles in the rear. About 2 
o'clock this afternoon the general arrived with his two aides and 
an escort of ten of Lieut. Ball's squadron. I gave him the salute 
of fifteen guns. This evening about o'clock Co\. Anderson 
of the 24ih Regiment arrived witb bis regiment of regulars, 
about 500 strong, brouglit their baggage on pack horses. Cran- 
dall, a man that arrived here from Detroit several weeks since, 
was put under guard this day by an order from ften. Harrison, 
on suspicion of being a spy. 

Tuesday 29th. — This morning Col. Johnson with 200 of 
his mounted men crossed the river on an expedition to the river 
Raisin for tbe purpose of reconnoitoring that part of the coun- 
try. This afternoon 130 of Col. Johnson's mounted riflemen _ 
arrived here, a party that had not joined the regiment before. 



87 

Q. M. Thompson of Col. Mill's regiment came in with them, 
they came by the way of Fort Defiance. 

Wednesday 30th. — Today rainy by showers. Two hundred 
of Col. Johnson's mien crossed the river this morning for the 
purpose of meeting him and the party that crossed yesterday 
and went to the Eiver Raisin. They all returned this evening; 
In-ought in two French prisoners. 

Thursday, July 1st. — This morning Gen. Harrison left camp 
for Cleveland, Capt. Wood Avith him and 100 mounted men as 
an escort. An express arrived soon after the General left this 
place from Lower Sandusky with infomiation that the Indians 
had been in that neighborhood, had killed one man and one 
woman, and scalped them and had taken seven prisoners. Col. 
Johnson with the balance of his mounted men are ordered to 
proceed immediatelv to Lower Sandusky. They will leave here 
tomorrow moniing. A man, one of the Kentuckians that was 
taken by the Indians on the 5th of May over the river, came in- 
to camp this evening; made his escape from them ten days ago 
somewhere at the head of the river TJaisin. He said that the In- 
dians sent him with a voung Indian to a small creek to wash 
some corn ; he was smoking a tomahawk pipe as they went along 
and just as they got to the bank of the creek, the Indian before, 
he struck the tomahawk into the Indian's head and cleared him- 
self, and has not eaten anything but weeds and bushes for ten 
days. 

Friday 3d. — This day the whole camp in motion. In the 
first place Col. Johnson left his camp which was on t,hc out^^ide 
of the pickets on the bottom, his men commenced firing as they 
left the camp and continued firing until they got entirely out of 
hearing — a great marl- of hravory. Another party left camp — 
Major Robinson, INFajor Wilson and, several of our Indians and 
some other people, went up on this side of the river to Fort 
Defiance. Capt. Craig of Col. Johnson's regiment with his com- 
pany was left behind. He and his lieutenant took it upon them- 
selves to send a party \\\) tlic river without orders, as they say 
after pack horses. They sent twelve or fourteen and took along 
with them four men that were discharged from the service; their 
orders were to go along with Major Robinson and party but 
were persuaded by those unruly militin to go with them. They 
went up on this side of tlie river five or six miles, then crossed 
over; the Indians cn'me upon them, killed and took the whole of 
them prisoners except two who have got into camp. Capt. 
Langham was sent up tlic rivci' wiili I no incn in order to collect 



88 

some flour that was left at the head of the Eapids in different 
places; took with him small boats to fetch it down. Several of 
his men that he had with him, but militia, without orders con- 
cluded to leave liim and go on ahead. They fell in with I'our or 
five Indians who gave them a shot but did not kill any of them. 
All those that made their escape met Capt. Langham; they re- 
ported to him that there was a large body of savages not less 
than 100. He returned back to camp on this side. Capt. Holt 
was sent up on this side with 200 men in order to assist Capt. 
Langham if wanted, but met him and all returned together. 
Lieut. Gaines of the 24th Eegiment was ordered to cross the river 
with 200 men and proceed up the river to where those men Avere 
killed ; he has not returned this evening, will stay all night. 
Those brave Kentuckians, when the Indians showed themselves, 
threw down their guns and cleared themselves without firing at 
them. 

Saturday 3rd. — This morning Capt. Langham with 150 men 
returned back after the flour ; left camp about half past fi o'clock. 
Col. Gaines returned this evening with a party : it is reported 
that they found three dead men, one scalped, two not, and found 
one dead Indian, one of our men killed and had scalped him. 
Capt. Langham came in this evening with his party; found but 
very little flour, it is supposed the Indians have destroyed it. 

July 4t.h, 1813, at Camp Meigs. 

This morning at sunrise we fired thirteen guns in honor 
of the 4th of July, 177fi. At 1 o'clock we fired eighteen, the 
National salute, they were all fired from two brass twelve pound- 
ers. After the firing was over the officers all repaired to a large 
bower prepare by Lieut. Hawkins near the lower magazine 
and partook of a fine dinner. By the report of Gen. 
Clay there were 86 officers commissioned and staff. There were 
18 toasts drank. I was taken with severe chills which passed 
off with fever and perspiration. 

Monday. July 5th. — This day the effects of the late Major 
Stoddard were sold. I have been indisposed all this day. 

Tuesday 6th. — This day I am very sick, taking physic, noth- 
ing particular new in the camp, tremendous heavy thunder with 
very heavy rain both last night and the night before last. 

Wednesday 7th. — This day T am very much better, of my 
indisposition, having eaten something. The picket guard saw 
several Indians in the woods as they say. One man fired on 
them; a party was sent in pursuit of them but returned without 
seeing them. 



89 

Thursdav 8th. — Lieut. Larawill, his hrother William, and 
Lieut. Henderson arrived here, the mail came with them. 

Saturday 10th. — This day very pleasant. The picket guard 
saw several Indians a short distance from the garrison, a party 
Tas sent in pursuit of them but returned without discoveries. 

Sunday 11th. — I crossed the river with Lieut. Larawall, 
Lieut. Henderson, Q. M. Thompson and twenty of my men ; 
made no discoveries. Spies that went down the river last night 
returned this evening making no discoveries. 

Monday 12th. — This morning I vomited, being very unwell, 
am better this evening. The sick are fast recruiting in my com- 
pany, only seven reported sick this morning. 

Tuesday 13th. — Capt. Gratiot and Lieut. Larawill have sur- 
veyed the camp and the country around it. My sick report this 
morning 5 only. 

Wednesday 14th. — T am very unwell but keep about. Some- 
what rainy by showers, it sets in to l)e a steady rain about sun- 
down. 

Thursday 15th. — The mail arrived this evening. The spies 
returned from down the river, state they saw six Indians at a 
distance. 

Saturday 17th. — l\Ir. Oliver arrived here with packhorses 
laden with com. 

Sunday 18th. — Eaiuy in the morning, the men are becom- 
ing more healthy, Ca]it. Martin of the spy boat sailed down the 
river to gain intelligence if possible of the British and Indians. 

Monday 19th. — Capt. Shaw with his company left this camp 
for the Portage Block-bouse. Capt. Martin returned this even- 
ing with the spy boat: be sailed down as far as Cedar Point, he 
made no discoveries, he states he heard several cannon fbis morn- 
ing in the direction of Maiden. 

Tuesday 20th. — This day rainy by showers. Lieut. Peters 
returned to camp this afternoon: be left here on Saturday in 
company with the mail and several otliers: he was on foot, the 
others on horse-back. He foil rather l)ehind his company and 
was surprised bv two Indians who had barrassed him through the 
woods for two days: he got rid of them yesterday, but states that 
he saw as many as 45 Indians on the large parterres, mounted 
on horses driving cattle. This season has been very cold and 
verv wet, has been a vast deal of thunder, rain and heavy wind. 
At 9 o'clock this evening if is reported in camp that two sails 
were seen down the river about sundown. It is expected the 
British and the Indians are coming to pay us another visit. 



90 

Capt. Martin with his company of spy rangers left camp on a 
trip up the river to return tomorrow. 

Indications of An Attack. 

Wednesday 21st. — This morning our camp besieged by In- 
dians and British. The Indians attacked our picket guard as 
they left the garrison this morning, between break of day and 
sunrise, killed and took 6 or 7 prisoners. The British are land- 
ing their forces down at the old British garrison ; they appear to 
have a very large force, but the principal part are Indians, by 
their appearance and leather tents. It is expected that Dixon 
has come on with the Indians from the other side of the Mississip- 
pi. We expect they intend to storm us if possible ; we are all 
engaged in putting ourselves in the best possible state of defense. 
Our cannons are all in good order. At 10 o'clock this morning 
the men are throwing up traverses in different parts of the garri- 
son, are securing the magazines, and what are not at work are 
at the pickets giving battle to the Indians. I have given them 
several shots with the 18 and the 18 pounders. The first shot 
I made at them put one to death, another shot in the course of 
the day, killed one, it threw his gun as much as fifteen feet into 
the air. This one was seen carried' off by two men. Mr. Oliver 
with one other started this evening to meet Gren. Harrison. An 
express, Capt. McCime with two others, started in one hour after 
on the same business. Lieut. Mountjoy came into camp this 
day from Portage block-house with 18 men. They made their 
escape ven^ strangelv through the Indians; they were followed 
for two miles and fired \^]^o^^ by them several times but did no 
harm. 

Thursday, .Tulv 22d. — The whole garrison on the watch last 
night, only one-third asleep at a time ; we expected an attack in 
the latter part of the night, but they have not troubled us nor 
this morning at 8 o'clock. Bv close examination we find they 
are planting batteries on the other side of the river and. expect 
they are on this side in several places. If that s'lould be the case 
they would give us a good deal of trouble, but they will not take 
this fort. It appears also that they are repaiiing the old British 
fort, but we are not certain of that as yet. It is expected they 
are as much as fi,000 strong, but not more than 1,000 whites, the 
rest are different tribes of Indians. Gen. Clay called all the 
officers together at 10 o'clock Ibis day: ho delivered his senti- 
ments very fully in res])eci io the siege; also comlmunicated to 
the officers thai tliere was fo hv no surrender of this garrison to 
the British and Iheir Indian allies. The Indians are saluting us 



91 

with their hell hound yells and rifle shots this evening at 9 o'clock. 

Friday 23rd. — The Indians are at their old business on the 
right angle of the garrison firing on the men on the picket. We 
have one man slightly wounded wHliin the garrison and one 
wounded in the thigh when at the river after water. Not one 
killed or badly wounded while in the garrison. About 11 o'clock 
Lieut. Col. Gaines with about 100 men sallied out from the 
garrison to reconnoitre the woods around the camp and to fetch 
in the dead that were killed on the 21st, belonging to the picket 
guard. They found two very miu-li mangled, they saw but four 
Indians, who fired on our men. The Colonel and party went 
twice around the fort and was covered by Col. Mills' regiment. 
They all returned into fort about 10 o'clock. The Indians made 
their appearance very soon after that and are keeping up a heavy 
fire at our pickets at this time, 2 o'clock. About 300 mounted 
Indians have passed up the river since 1 o'clock on the other 
side of the river, crossed over onto this side about two miles 
above this; we expect to have warm work this night. 

Saturday 24th. — The enemy did not disturb us last night 
any farther than to keep us on diligent watch — we see nor hear 
anything of them this morning as yet, but expect to see them as 
soon as the fog clears off. Aboiit 9 o'clock we discovered the 
enemy at the old British fort in columns, and their boats cross- 
ing over to this side filled with men. It appears they are cross- 
ing over to this side to give us battle this evening. They are all 
around the garrison showing themselves in different places. They 
have fired but very little at us this day; the Indians are plentv' 
to be seen at a distance. 

Sunday 25th. — This morning all the men in the garrison 
were under arms at half past 2 o'clock, each man had not less 
than two nor over three muskets by his side well charged, at the 
pickets. They have had no use for them this day. The Indians 
came to the edge of the woods and fire onc<^ and awhile. One 
of the soldiers shot a buck in the river Ihis day. Our camp is 
in very good order for defense, our men in fine spirits. There 
appears to be by the smoke, a large part of them in camp about 
two miles up the river in the woods. They have been firing in- 
to our camp five days and have not killed one man yet. Watch 
word this night "Musket." 

A Trick That Didn't Win. 

Mondav 2fith. — The ciicniy have not troubled us last night 
or this morning more tliaii usual. Capt. IMcCune and the 
Frenchmen sent from this camp to sec Gen. Harrison, arrived 



92 

here about 7 o'clock with intelligence from the Greneral at Lower 
Sandusky. State that he is collecting a large force there and 
that Gov. Meigs is raising the militia of this State which will 
be on in a few days. Also our fleet will be ready to take part on 
the lake in a very short time. About 4 o'clock this afternoon 
a very heavy firing took place at about one half mile in the rear 
of our camp. It appeared like an engagement with the Indians; 
they keep up the heavy firing accompanied with their horrid 
savage yells. The supposed object was to draw out our troops 
from the garrison, thinking we had a reenforcement coming in 
and was attacked, and would sally out to their assistance; but 
we were too well aware of their intention to be taken in by their 
British and savage intrigue. Their object no doubt was to draw 
out a party of our men into the bush in the rear of our camp, 
while the rest of their troops were on the flanks of our camps 
out of sight, watching to make an assault on our pickets while 
our men were engaged in the bush. Just as this sham battle 
stopped there came up the heaviest thunder shower that ever I 
experienced. I am positive I never in all my life saw it rain 
harder than it did for nearly one hour; our camp was completely 
inundated. The men have all discharged their pieces, and load- 
ed them fit for action. This is the sixth day of siege and not a 
man killed except wliat were killed at the picket guard the first 
day. One of two things was their intention this day by their 
sham battle — they either meant to fall on the back of our men 
and cut them off, or wait until they had got into the woods and 
make an assault on the garrison. At 11 o'clock this evening 
Capt. McCune, one Frenchman and one other man started on 
express to Lower Sandusky to General Harrison. 

Tuesday 27tli. — The seventh day of the second siege at this 
place by the British and their Indian allies. Very few of them 
are to be seen this morning; their tents appear to be more num- 
erous down at the old British garrison this morning than they 
have been for three days before; it is expected the heavy fall of 
rain last evening drove them out of the woods. Their operations 
are unknown; not more tlian from ten to fifteen Indians have 
been seen this day, and tlicsc ju-incipally on horseback. If they 
ever attempt to storm this garrison it will be this night, unless 
they think to stan-e us out, but that will be impossible in two 
months; we luive ]ilenty of flour, pork and salt to last as long 
as thev can conveniently stay. The watchword this evening is 
"Sword." Our men all in higli spirits awaiting the attack. At 
10 o'clock word passed tlii-ough the garrison thnt two men had 



93 

deserted; the watch word changed to "Madison." The suspic- 
ion was without foundation, there had not anybody left camp. 

Wednesday 38th. — Eighth day of the siege. This morning 
very pleasant, the enemy very scarce, nothing to be seen or heard 
of them about our camp. Some few tents, men and horses to 
be seen down at the old garrison on the bottom. This afternoon 
we discovered three small vessels and boats sailing down the 
river, some of them appeared to be filled with men; also we saw 
a large number of mounted Indians crossing about two miles 
above this fort and passing down on the other side. Once in a 
while I give them a shot from the 18-pound gun in the big 
battery and twelve from Block-house No. 1 ; tJiose guns put them 
in quick motion. Gen. Clay sent out two spies, Abbott and 
("heeks, this evening to view their camps. Their camps down 
the river were very large as they reported. 

Thursday 29th. — The spies returned into camp this morning 
a little after daylight. They report they saw about 20 Indians 
in the camp below this fort; they state they had two very large 
encampments below. They also state that there were some In- 
dians above this fort in the woods, how many they could not tell, 
they did not approach near enough to tell. By the appearance 
of their camp, they have a very large force of Indians. Gen. 
Clay sent an express last evening to Gen. Harrison. Our people 
this day are cleaning up the camp and ventured to the river to 
wash. Capt. Martin has not returned with his spies; it is very 
much feared that he has been cut off by the Indians. The spies 
report that the Indians had a great number of horses with them 
by the appearance of the encampment. Very disagreeable affair 
took place last night in this garrison — the officer of the day and 
Lieut. John Henderson of my company of artillery got drunk, 
passed around the lines and abused several of the sentinels so 
much that they have entered a formal complaint against Lieut. 
Henderson, to have him arrested which will be done this even- 
ing. The same two spies were sent out to reconnoitre the In- 
dian eam)[)s ; they came in before 2 o'clock, report they did not see 
any Indians, but heard the rowing of a boat or boats and heard 
an Indian dog bark at them. The watchword "Kentucky." 

Siege liaised After Seven Days. 
Friday 30th. — This morning every officer and soldier in the 
garrison on the watch at 2 o'clock, expecting if the enemy ever 
intend(Hl to make an assault on this garrison, it would be this 
morning. They have not shown themselves. The general sent 
out 200 men this morning about 9 o'clock to examine the grounds 



94 

occupied by the Indians and British during the siege which 
commenced on the 31st. and was raised on the 28th. The move- 
ments of the enemy have been very extraordinary, both coming 
and going out of this place, they have taken off about thirty head 
of working oxen and some few pack-horses. By the appearance 
of their encampment they m.ust liave been as much as 6,000 
strong, both Indians and British. By every appearance they ex- 
pected to decoy us out of the garrison into the woods, where 
they had their Indians concentrated, and cut us off by small de- 
tachments until they had weakened our force by the Indian 
slaughter so much as to carry our pickets. Poor fellows ! they 
have been sadly disappointed; the General took good care of their 
traps. It is generally believed here that the Indians have pressed 
the British to make this last move on Fort Meigs, and they (the 
British) were obliged so to do to save their own selves. They 
have gratified the Indians by coming; how far it will go in 
pacifying them is more than I can tell ; the British will either 
have to compliment them with very heavy annuities, or will have 
to sirff'er being plundered by them, that is without any doubt. 

Poor allies, if they cannot plunder the enemy will plunder 
them that employ them. An express was sent this evening up to 
Fort Defiance in order to ascertain where the savages have been 
in that neighborhood during the last siege. The watchword 
this evening is "Ohio is the Boy." Our camp is in perfect silence 
this evening. The men on duty as usual, by order of the General, 
he not being fully satisfied that the enemy has abandoned the 
siege. Caution is one of the greatest traits of military glory 
that a General can be possessed of. The commanding officer can- 
not be too cautious of his enemy; they will come like a thief in 
the night when they are least expected. 

Saturday, July 31, 1813. — This morning the general sent 
out spies, some up and some down the river; they returned this 
evening; report that they saw no Indians, neitlier did they see 
any fresh signs. Our picket guard on the right wing of the 
fiimp, but about 300 yards from the pickets and in the woods, 
fired four shots; stjit<' that they saw two Indians. I am inclined 
to believe that Ihvy were mistaken; by the report of the spies they 
surely must be. 1 am very unwell this evening with fevers and 
chills. The watchword this night is "Tennessee." 

(The Diary does not seem to have been continued beyond 
this point.) 




FORT MEIGS AND ITS ENVIRONS. 

Explanations: — a, grand battery, conimanded by Captain Daniel 
dishing; b, motar battery; e, i, o, minor batteries; g, battery command- 
ed at the second siege by Colonel Gaines; c, magazines. The blaclv 
squares on the lines of the fort represent the position of the block 
houses. The dotted lines show the traverses, or walls of earth thrown 
up. The longest, the grand traverse, had a base of twenty feet, was 
twelve in height, and about nine hundred in length. The traverses 
running lengthwise of the fort, were raised as a protection against 
the batteries on the opposite side of the river, and those running cross- 
wise were to defend them from the British batteries on this side. The 
British batteries on the north side of the river were named as follows: 
a Queen's; b Sailor's; d, King's; and c, Motar. The fort stood upon 
high ground, on the margin of the bank, elevated about sixty feet above 
the Maumee. The surface is nearly level, and is covered by a green 
sward The outline of the fort is now well defined, and the grand 
traverse yet rises six or eight feet from the surrounding ground. 






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